Letting chickens clear the garden

[pclark17]

Is there any considerations I need to make before letting my hens have access to our summer garden space now that everything has just about ended production? We have green bean plants, okra, tomatoes, cucumbers, jalapenos, and some squash plants. I want to give them free run of the space but didn't know if there was anything I needed to consider before letting them have at it. Being this is the first time we have had a successful garden space since getting our girls last year, I want to make sure I am doing so responsibly. I would imagine they will enjoy the goodies they find, as well as helping me clear the ground and break up the soil while making their contributions to the dirt for next year.

 

[sourland]

Let them at it. They will love it and be a help in clearing the garden. I have actually seen dual pen set ups where one year a side was garden and the next just a chicken pen - fertilized and tilled by the chickens.

 

[lazy gardener]

The only issue I could even think of might be if you were using some pretty potent insecticides in your garden. Nope. Didn't think so!!!

 

[bruceha2000]

Good reminder LG. Since some of us don't use chemical pesticides or fertilizers, we don't think of such things!

 

[pclark17]

Thank you, we definitely do not use any insecticides and only apply a safe, organic fertilizer during the summer months when plant growth and production is just beginning.

 

[junebuggena]

Might as well do a good coop cleanout before letting them at the garden. Just take all the muck and toss it over the garden and let the chickens till it in.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yep. I always try to think outside of my box.... like when recommending that folks give their baby chickies a plug of sod. there are folks who actually pay people to come and poison their yards on a regular basis.

 

[sharkerbaby]

Would the tomato plants be of any concern? I know the fruit itself is ok but what about the leaves? I'm asking because I am in the same situation and I was planning on pulling the tomato vines before releasing the ladies but if I don't have to do that step all the better.

 

[junebuggena]

I've never had issues with chickens eating tomato leaves. Fruit they will eat, but they ignore the leaves.

 

[lazy gardener]

No worries about tomato leaves or any other leaves in the garden. My girls make a bee line for THE RHUBARB every fall when I let them into the garden. They skeletonize those leaves. Um. We all have been told how poisonous rhubarb LEAVES are, right???? Well, my girls have not read that fact, and are not at all impressed when I tell them about it. They simply chow down those leaves, and come back the next day for some more.