Fertilzer Question

[Lunachick]

My veggie garden didn't do too well for whatever reasons, anyhow, so I sprinkled fertilizer beads in there to perk it up. (I did that about 2 wks ago) Now I want to let my chickens in there to peck around, so they will leave my azaleas and hostas ALONE!

Is this a good idea? I went out there to rake up the beads as best I could, it's supposed to be 6 mos slow release kind.
And I got alot of it, but there are some of those little fertilizer beads in there.

Should I not let them in there, or let em in?

Oh - it's only a 10 x 12 area, they haven't been in there before as it was fenced off.

Any suggestions? Thank you!

If I'm not in the right area, I apologize in advance.

 

[Lunachick]

Ha! I'm going to answer my own question. I've decided to completely clean out the top layer of soil so none of the fertilizer is in there. Top it off with new composted stuff, and let them in there to do their chicken thing! And they can have my pathetic looking tomatoes and one lousy collard green!

Maybe next year will be better in the veggie patch.

 

[LindaN]

I've always had great veggie gardens using just compost and adding a few organic amendments to the planting hole: blood meal, bone meal, and some kelp meal.

Now that I've got the 3 chickens, I expect to have even better compost next year.

 

[chickbea]

I agree that you should err on the side of caution here. I always use natural compost. I don't even use grass seed that is treated with anything, because I'm afraid they will eat that.