Getting a new flock

[JimWWhite]

Well, we'll be back in the chicken business this fall. I ordered and paid for twenty-four black sex links from Shook Poultry nearby in Claremont, NC. They'll be eighteen week-old started pullets. From everything I've read the BSL's are just as good of layers as the Golden Comets (RSL's) we've had for the past three years. Between now and then I've got to go down to the run and clean it out, put in fresh sand, and pressure wash the coop. But there's a problem. A few weeks ago Teresa was out watering the apples and told me to go look in the chicken run. I did and didn't see anything thinking she had spotted a black snake or something. She said to look again around the base of the 2x4 wire ringing the run. Then I spotted what she was trying to get me to see. All along the fence were young tomato plants reaching up for the sun. Now they've gotten too big and I guess we're just going to let them grow and see what we get. It's probably too late to transplant them now. I'll have to thin them out some but they've been getting plenty of water and they are healthy. They're just volunteers. I guess we must have fed the old Gals some tomatoes and they passed on through and germinated in the rich soil. There's probably thirty or more plants rimming three sides of the run. I'll post some pics tomorrow if I can remember to find my camera.

 

[speckledhen]

It's said that the leaves of the plant are poisonous, though I'm not really sure how much they'd have to eat of the leaves to do any harm. We don't let our chickens get near the plants. They'll surely eat the tomatoes, though.

Just wanted to mention, if you didn't already know, that Shook's started pullets are all debeaked, if I recall correctly. Some folks in the past have seemed surprised when they got them, so wanted to post that tidbit of info. You're getting quite a head start on your eggs!

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I have no idea whether tomato leaves are poisonous or not, but my chickens never try to eat the leaves. I have heard that chickens have the natural ability to tell what's good to eat and what's not, and that seems to be true for my chickens. None of mine have ever been poisoned and they are free to roam around our 20 acres. It might be good to keep the chickens away from the tomato plants just as a precaution and for peace of mind, but I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[JimWWhite]

In this particular case for some reason Shook is offering the BSL's without de-beaking them. The last time I checked they still had several hundred started pullets available for 9/8 this year but the BSL's always sell out fast.

 

[RedDrgn]

Our chickens love tomatoes, though it's rare that they ever get them. But thinking on it, they don't bother our tomato plants at all whenever they happen to figure out how to get through the deer netting we keep around our garden. They always go for the pepper plants, instead.

 

[speckledhen]

In this particular case for some reason Shook is offering the BSL's without de-beaking them. The last time I checked they still had several hundred started pullets available for 9/8 this year but the BSL's always sell out fast.

Wow, that is awesome! Usually, you have no choice with their started pullets. Great!

I agree that chickens and other avian species usually know what plants they shouldn't eat. I just don't let mine into the garden at all and when we pull up the tomato plants, we toss them on the fenced compost pile. I doubt a couple of bites of the leaves would hurt them, probably they wouldn't even like them much, but they sure love tomatoes!

 

[JimWWhite]

For the most part our food waste went out to the hens every day. There was very little they didn't eat. Pigs with feathers is what I always called them.