MJ's little flock

[Scrambles83]

Sounds lovely!

I've been really enjoying it! Although I was a little naughty and worked on one writing project but that's done now.

Once the chicken run is paid for, I'll see if my savings stretch to converting the small bedroom into a study. It would be nice to have that done before February too.

Writing project sounds interesting. Are you a writer by trade?
Run is looking great, can’t wait to see it finished with your ladies in there! ☺

 

[RoyalChick]

All sorts Shad. It'll be a garden one day. In the meantime the little coop and old tables will be in there for shade and a misting system will be installed for cooling. In particular, I'm thinking about three clusters of bushes. One cluster of these I think they'll struggle to get beyond 2m in our soil, and that's perfect. And a couple of other clusters but I haven't chosen which shrubs yet.

Also the hens will only be confined in the run when I'm not home and I'm home a lot.

I am starting to plan my chicken garden and I also thought viburnum would be a good choice. They can get some robust lower branches I thought the chickens would like to sit on.

 

[MaryJanet]

Writing project sounds interesting. Are you an writer by trade?
Run is looking great, can’t wait to see it finished with your ladies in there! ☺

It's going to be fantastic in the long term too, as the flocks fills out. And it'll be great when I go back to travelling, assuming we all get back to it eventually.

I do some writing among a bunch of other commitments. In this case, someone whose work I respect invited me to write a section for his latest book, of course I jumped at it. He invited three others too but I don't know who. He was pleased with it and said it cohered with one of his chapters, so that's good.

 

[MaryJanet]

I am starting to plan my chicken garden and I also thought viburnum would be a good choice. They can get some robust lower branches I thought the chickens would like to sit on.

Which other plants are you considering?

 

[MaryJanet]

You run your flock the way I do mine. The Coop Complex is really only limiting when I'm not here for them to free range or the ground is covered in snow and they choose to remain in the complex.

Barring the unforeseen, in time it will be a very comfy chicken home. I usually pop over to Europe for three-four weeks a year and there are numerous trips to and from Sydney and Melbourne, so safe and happy hens in my absence is my main goal, aling with capacity for 8-12 hens with slow and steady flock growth.

 

[Ribh]

Not being able to ride a bike. I just assume it's something everyone has done.

And yet you can ride a motorbike ~ which I consider more difficult...

 

[Ribh]

It's all looking lovely MJ. You should have some very happy hens.

Would you consider some shell ginger. Mine love it & it's really hardy once established beside getting lovely hanging clumps of flowers.

I have planted some in the run extension & am hoping it gets a go on before the girls get to it.

 

[MaryJanet]

You run your flock the way I do mine. The Coop Complex is really only limiting when I'm not here for them to free range or the ground is covered in snow and they choose to remain in the complex.

Also, most of the chickening I do is heavily informed by yourself and Shad.

 

[RoyalChick]

Which other plants are you considering?

We have something called a variegated red twigged dog wood that is bright crimson branches in winter so looks pretty against the snow. https://www.michiganbulb.com/product/midwinter-fire-dogwood?

p=0819680&gclid=CjwKCAiAouD_BRBIEiwALhJH6KVAnfGiQKzAnlXq4RuBoxNj3DqSur1UKUTiP5m1eNP6pb9yd5YxkhoCiowQAvD_BwE

Then I thought Forsythia for spring interest and dense twigs for chickens to hide in.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/857785...T9H6Jdkuoa1CaL6Lf5P2Q9-NOtQr3u2hoC6zMQAvD_BwE

There will be a very wet area where the gutters drain and wet is good for blueberries and the chickens love blueberries so thinking about that too.

Then I need a couple of chairs and a little table for me to sit in - need to solve the poop problem - might just hang a scraper near at hand!
Hope the links work. I do have to check none of these plants are poisonous to chickens. Blueberries definitely arent!

 

[MaryJanet]

It's all looking lovely MJ. You should have some very happy hens.

Would you consider some shell ginger. Mine love it & it's really hardy once established beside getting lovely hanging clumps of flowers.

I have planted some in the run extension & am hoping it gets a go on before the girls get to it.
View attachment 2481493​

Does it grow in sand and is it ok with dry spells?