First Time Owners

[TheAmundsons]

How big is your garden? Is it raised beds? Small/big? Do you have the option of "moving" it? Some people put up a coop, with a fenced run on either side of the coop. During the first year, the chickens get the run to the left of the coop, while the run to the right becomes the garden. In the fall, the chickens are allowed into the garden/run to glean and prep the soil for the following season. The second year, the process is reversed, with the chickens using the run to the right, while the garden uses the area to the left.

Or you might consider this option. This is one of my favorite videos:

Then, there is this. this video might revolutionize your gardening method.

https://www.backtoedenfilm.com/

We will actually be making a new garden as well! It won't be huge, maybe 10x10 feet, in the ground. We're trying to find the perfect spot on our acreage to plan our coop/garden. We have almost 9 acres, so we have lots of room! We were thinking of having an enclosed run going around the outside of the garden. We'd have a\the coop be combined with a storage shed for gardening tools, as well as the bedding/feed, etc for the chickens!

 

[TheAmundsons]

Welcome to BYC. You'll find all the answers here. Chickens can really help control insects around your place if they are free-ranging, but if they get to your young veggies they'll control them, too.

Very true! We would like to have an enclosed run around the garden so they can defend against the bugs without being able to get to the produce! We may let them be in the garden after harvest, to get it ready for the next year!

 

[Nyla]

So happy you could join us! There is tons of awesome information and amazingly nice people to help you along the way!

 

[lazy gardener]

Be sure to include photos of your progress and your final set up.

 

[ronott1]

Welcome to Backyard chickens!

I can't wait to see pictures or the garden chicken run

 

[TheAmundsons]

We got our chickens this weekend! They also had ducks, and Dan just couldn’t say no, so we got two ducks as well! So far everything is going very well, honestly better than expected! We are building the coop this weekend, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out! We decided to not incorporate the garden because there’s not a spot on our acreage that would work well for the coop while also having enough sun for the garden. Pictures of the coop to come! Thank you all for your support and words of wisdom! It definitely makes this new experience a little less nerve wracking

 

[Joeschooks]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Well done on doing plenty of research and joining this site. I do hope you'll find it useful

 

[TheAmundsons]

Question: When should we move them into the coop?

 

[ronott1]

When they are fully feathered--usually at six weeks old. They will not need heat then.

Make sure the coop is predator proof!

 

[R3bauer]

Welcome to BYC! Great start!