Garden

[FARMminiature]

I’m wanting to put a coop inside or right next to my garden. I’d like to incorporate my chickens. I was debating about cutting the garden area in half. Then, I plan to switch the garden side and free roam chicken side every year. I would like to see other setups. Also, I want to see chickens incorporated in any way, shape, or form into gardens. I’m still deciding on what I plan to do. Thank you! Ideas? Regrets? Any helpful information?

 

[AnnPann]

My coop is next to my garden and the chickens are allowed into my garden all year, except during planting/early growing season. Once plants are established, they didn’t do much damage and devoured bugs. They sampled some things, like blackberries, but I grow enough to allow for their snacking. Their time in the garden is limited to when I’m out there, but that’s be because of predators.

I found they really didn’t like walking on black plastic sheeting, so those beds that I used it on they left alone. I suspect they’ll get used to it eventually but worked well this summer.

I initially worried a lot about them destroying things, but they were surprisingly polite about it all, even walking mostly on the paths. They were great helpers when I’d be weeding - gobbling up bugs and grubs while I pulled up the weeds.

I also worried a lot about them eating things that are supposedly toxic to them, but they left those alone too (beans, green tomatoes, etc).

Mine won’t eat squash bugs or cucumber beetles which was a major disappointment, as I have a lot of those every year. They love japanese beetles, but I had to teach them how to find them (in the marigold blooms).

Chickening + gardening is my favorite hobby. I love to have them around me when I’m working out there!

 

[StinkyAcres]

We recently moved our garden right next to the coop and it's been great. When we change the chickens' water we pour the remainder in the garden and the soiled bedding goes straight into the compost pile. I don't usually let the chickens in the garden until we're done using it for the year (we have a raised bed, no-dig/no-till garden), but they have escaped and haven't ruined any mature plants. The sheep on the other hand...

 

[NestingMillenial]

I also have chickens around my raised beds with no protection and the beds are barely 10 inches off the floor, so they could clear that no problem. They don't seem very interested by those so far, but most veggies are fairly grown by now... I am afraid the chickens could easily see the beds as dust baths or sprouted grain treats during the early/seeding season!

 

[Wubba]

I’m wanting to put a coop inside or right next to my garden. I’d like to incorporate my chickens. I was debating about cutting the garden area in half. Then, I plan to switch the garden side and free roam chicken side every year. I would like to see other setups. Also, I want to see chickens incorporated in any way, shape, or form into gardens. I’m still deciding on what I plan to do. Thank you! Ideas? Regrets? Any helpful information?

This is EXACTLY my plan! Have you started? I divided my garden and only planted half (just last weekend). I'm going to build the permanent coop attached at one side...I have a temporary coop/run from TSC I'm going to set right down in the half of the garden that I'm not planting this year. The chicks are only 9 or 10 days old now. I'm going to move them to the temp coop as soon as they are ready... hopefully, it will buy me enough time to build the 'palace'.