Gardening with chickens (and other poultry)

[mymonkeybug]

It is never too early to begin planning and preparing for your spring garden and spring chickens. Heck, we have never even had chickens yet but I plan for them every year

This IS so the year though and they will be here. Sadly, I am desiring breeds that are harder to find. UGH!!!!! I am curious to see how much garden grub we the people of the home will actually get once the chickens are introduced. I am really hoping we can all share the garden.

 

[bnjrob]

Sadly, I am desiring breeds that are harder to find. UGH!!!!!

If you are trying to get "heritage" chickens from breeders - try going over to the Heritage Large Fowl thread and asking if anyone has leads on the breeds you want.

 

[mlm Mike]

If you are trying to get "heritage" chickens from breeders - try going over to the Heritage Large Fowl thread and asking if anyone has leads on the breeds you want.

X2

 

[canesisters]

mymonkeybug, what breeds are you looking for?

 

[thebanthams]

its January and too cold for me to work in my garden. I let my chickies do their work, They are good at looking for pests, digging, and fertilized my garden !

 

[mymonkeybug]

Thanks for the suggestions. I really want a couple Barnevelders which while I can find at commercial hatchery websites, I have to order more of that specific breed than I desire. Also, I do prefer doing business with small private small business owners anyway whenever I can. Also liked the Welsummers. And I would really like a couple Easter Eggers other than the generic one size fits all variety available online. A couple Faverolles too...oh and my list grows.

 

[Adorkable]

its January and too cold for me to work in my garden. I let my chickies do their work, They are good at looking for pests, digging, and fertilized my garden !

That's what my girls are doing right now as I type. Thank goodness they have not tried to dustbathe in my herb spiral yet lol.

 

[sbpdx]

Each year I allow the flock to roam through the dormant vegetable garden scratching and pecking.
When I turn the soil over in spring I'll give them one last chance to dig around. I think the post-rototill is their favorite time.
In fact, when they see the tiller or shovel come out, I become quite a popular guy. Tons of grubs and earthworms to clean up, you know.

And I'll gladly sacrifice a few night-crawlers if they manage to scoop up the dormant pests while they're at it.

I've created a garden area that allows me to fence off the entire area when birds are no longer welcome. So when the seeds and seedlings go in, the birds are cordoned off in their run until the plants are large enough that I can re-introduce the ladies again. I don't mind if they peck a hole or two in a tomato once and a while, but they'll cut through tender seedlings and plantings in a matter of minutes. And they ***** like hell when they can't get access, but we don't always get what we want in life.

And, of course, the garden trimmings and waste goes right into their run and they make short work of the yard debris. And, of course, their droppings get amended into the soil through the winter right on top of the dormant beds. Quite a little cycle of life.

This year I am contemplating how to irrigate some of the beds using the duck-pond water. Not sure if this is feasible or advisable, so some more research on the topic is in order. Fortunately it will be another 6 months before irrigation is required here in Oregon.

 

[canesisters]

spbdx welcome to BYC! Sounds like you've got quite a good system going there.

 

[cmcanallen]

This is a great thread! I'm learning so much. I've had a large garden that is a pain in the butt to til every year and am hoping to start a flock this spring just for this reason. Thank ya'll for all the great info I didn't even know I didn't know...