Does anyone grow a garden for chickens?

[cutechick53]

Hi! I got a new planter box and I have so many that I don't know what to plant! Does anyone have a garden that they grow plants specifically for their chickens? Or does anyone have flowers that match their chickens?

 

[Percheron chick]

Grow whatever you like and want. Chances are your garden will produce more than you can eat and the chickens will happily consume the extra. You can never go wrong with summer squash. It will produce more than you can ever eat. The ones you miss and grow exponentially are perfect for chickens. Winter squash is another good bet. Requires more room but you can harvest it and save it for a later date providing fresh vegetables year round.

 

[Stiggy]

Yes I grow silver beet for my chooks, corn, tomartos and apples, pears etc ( which I also grow for myself but the chickens get half of it lol)
only problem is keeping them out of the garden. if you grow silver beet but don't use it all it will continue to grow for the next season and will go to seed which spreads it round thus you have more ( chickens love it so more isn't a problem hahaha)

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I grow lavender, lettuce, basil ,thyme, mint, (one of my faves) marigolds, roses, etc. Basically whatever you like, your chickens will like also!

Here's two links also.

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/05/top-ten-flowers-your-chickens-will-love.html
http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2012/07/benefits-of-herbs.html

 

[Percheron chick]

Apples and pears are delicacies. They fall off the tree and rot slightly on the ground getting good and buggy. YUM!!!

 

[cutechick53]

Thank you! has anyone tries wheat and let the chickens just go crazy and peck at them?

 

[cutechick53]

I just planted full-grown summer squash, (patty pan type) should I let my chickens peck at some of their leaves or do you think some of the thorny stock would seriously injure the chickens throat?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

I just planted full-grown summer squash, (patty pan type) should I let my chickens peck at some of their leaves or do you think some of the thorny stock would seriously injure the chickens throat?

Yes, it the thorns don't damage the throat they could damage the crop or gizzard. So, avoid it.

 

[lazy gardener]

IMO, your chickens are smart enough to know what they can and can't eat.

My problem is to keep the chickens from jumping the fence into the garden. They got into my corn and ripped up part of the new seedlings today.

There are also plants that you can grow that have insecticidal properties that MAY help you in your battle against chicken pests.

A friend just visited, and said that when her kids were little, citronella was all she used for mosquito repellent. I'll need to question her about exactly how she used it. I had a few mites in the nest box a month or so ago. Put a couple of chopped citronella leaves in the nest box, and have not seen any further mite evidence. Could be a coincidence, but worthy to note publicly. I also have lemon balm, peppermint and lemon verbena that i plan to dry for winter use. There's a scallop leaved pungent smelling viney weed with purple flowers that is taking over my lawn. It has no insect enemies, so i may dry some of that as well.

For the garden, i found an old blender at the dump, and plan to puree some peony leaves, and perhaps some mint, lemon mint or the viney stuff, and use the liquid on potatoes and squash to repel/confuse their pest insects.

Also making weed tea for fertilizer.