Locating a chicken moat garden.

[vickivail98]

Finally found a house to purchase so I'm in planning stages. I'm in love with the idea of a chicken moat garden. Specifically this one http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/garden-pest-control-zmaz88mjzgoe.aspx

The property is divided to basically make two Squares by a county controlled drainage ditch. It's levels vary from a trickle to 2ish feet deep and its planted out for erosion control. Animals must be fences away from it. My two choices for coop/garden location are with the side that doesn't contain the coop and sheds about 10-20 feet off the house's back deck (mainly centered because of zoning) OR I could move the whole shebang to the back half of the property but it would be out of my sight line from the house and I would have to pay (possibly big) bucks for a permit to install a bridge or culvert into the ditch in order to run electricity and be able to easily access them when water is high. I'm pretty much against it unless you guys think that having the coop/ garden this close to the house is a problem.

 

[Ameraucanas]

It sounds like a good idea.

 

[aart]

Finally found a house to purchase so I'm in planning stages. I'm in love with the idea of a chicken moat garden. Specifically this one http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/garden-pest-control-zmaz88mjzgoe.aspx

The property is divided to basically make two Squares by a county controlled drainage ditch. It's levels vary from a trickle to 2ish feet deep and its planted out for erosion control. Animals must be fences away from it. My two choices for coop/garden location are with the side that doesn't contain the coop and sheds about 10-20 feet off the house's back deck (mainly centered because of zoning) OR I could move the whole shebang to the back half of the property but it would be out of my sight line from the house and I would have to pay (possibly big) bucks for a permit to install a bridge or culvert into the ditch in order to run electricity and be able to easily access them when water is high. I'm pretty much against it unless you guys think that having the coop/ garden this close to the house is a problem.

What is your climate?(putting your location in your profile helps folks give better suggestions).

I'm in love with this idea too...if I could afford all the fencing required, I'd do it in a heart beat.

I'd keep it closer to the house, especially if you live in a snowy area.

 

[Mrs. K]

I have thought of this when I get old and have to move to town.

Anyway, I would be of the camp, move the chickens to the farthest part of your property, I don't like my chickens that close to the house, however, I do like my garden that close.

As for running electricity to the coop, mine does not have electricity and my girls get along fine.

And a bridge can be a bit of corral plankiing for the few times it is that deep, or even a stepping stone in the middle.

Mrs K

 

[vickivail98]

Thanks for the thoughts, we are in southern Michigan so planting zone 5b. We get plenty of snow and I will need power in the coop because 6 months out of the year it's dark at chore time and I usually have a toddler "helping" me

I'll post again when I figure out what my plan is. Thank you!

 

[daskhan]

Closer to the house is better makes for easier monitoring and less animals willing to venture in remember human smells normally deter wild animals

 

[aart]

Thanks for the thoughts, we are in southern Michigan so planting zone 5b. We get plenty of snow and I will need power in the coop because 6 months out of the year it's dark at chore time and I usually have a toddler "helping" me

I'll post again when I figure out what my plan is. Thank you!

Ah, Hello Fellow Michigainian.
Closer to house is better for sure imo, remember to plan for snow removal for easy access to coop and run in winter.
My walking is often like toddlers, so I keep path to coop and run clear of snow down to the grass at all times, I use sand for traction when it gets slippery.
Make your coop large and well ventilated because they don't particularly like walking on the snow and can spend days on end in the coop.....
......and that will give you room to partition off separate coop areas for raising chicks, plan extra doors into coop and moat for that as well.

ETA: Power to the coop is nice for lights and especially for keeping water thawed in winter.

 

[Chipper Chicken]

Could you use solar panels to power LED lights for chore time? (And maybe a string of Christmas lights, too) I know Harbor freight puts them on sale every other month or so, and I have one of theirs, just haven't used it so can't attest to its quality yet. (Some of their stuff is great, some not so) I will be putting mine up this winter I think, not that that helps you now......

How wide is the ditch? Would RR type ties span it? I found treated timbers on Craigslist cheap I plan to use as a base across a narrow ditch I have. I was going to fasten boards crossways over the base pieces, then add a long skinny board on top of those boards along each side as a safety rail. Maybe this will give you some ideas.....

 

[vickivail98]

Ah, Hello Fellow Michigainian.
Closer to house is better for sure imo, remember to plan for snow removal for easy access to coop and run in winter.
My walking is often like toddlers, so I keep path to coop and run clear of snow down to the grass at all times, I use sand for traction when it gets slippery.
Make your coop large and well ventilated because they don't particularly like walking on the snow and can spend days on end in the coop.....
......and that will give you room to partition off separate coop areas for raising chicks, plan extra doors into coop and moat for that as well.

ETA: Power to the coop is nice for lights and especially for keeping water thawed in winter.

Thanks for the info! You're absolutely right about keeping water from freezing. Question? We will have a walk behind snowblower, could I use that to keep my path clear or will it totally destroy the grass?

 

[vickivail98]

Could you use solar panels to power LED lights for chore time? (And maybe a string of Christmas lights, too) I know Harbor freight puts them on sale every other month or so, and I have one of theirs, just haven't used it so can't attest to its quality yet. (Some of their stuff is great, some not so) I will be putting mine up this winter I think, not that that helps you now......

How wide is the ditch? Would RR type ties span it? I found treated timbers on Craigslist cheap I plan to use as a base across a narrow ditch I have. I was going to fasten boards crossways over the base pieces, then add a long skinny board on top of those boards along each side as a safety rail. Maybe this will give you some ideas.....

Thanks for replying, I could use a little solar panel but will have to do some more research, it may come in handy if I decide to use poultry net electric fencing later. (I love stuff that isn't single use) The ditch however is a real problem because of the zoning ordinances. You have to get a permit to build a cross way strong enough to transport anything substantial (such as a rototiller or trailer full of heavy building materials) and it would have to be about 10 feet long in order to not be partially submerged in the spring. I suspect it would be an expensive project.

I'm just going to keep things close.