- Jul 10, 2009
- 2,173
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Greetings from an Old Coot with backyard chickens and a Garden
I have about 30 mixed breed chickens--I've been hatching my own eggs from the Easter Eggers, and Jersey Giants with a few other genes thrown in.
I built a larger run this year as I could no longer deal with the constant predation---mostly from neighborhood dog packs and foxes.
I use the deep litter method on a dirt floor that is below ground level, the coop is on a deep brick foundation.
The dust bath is a tractor tire filled with sand and wood ashes.
I have mulberry trees in the run to help feed the chickens, I also have planted Apple and Persimmons in the larger run I built this year. I grow extra tomatoes in cages inside the run---they grow up and over the cage dropping tomatoes til frost. My garden is next to the run and all surplus and spoiled veggies go to the chickens.
I raise Guineas with the Chickens, they fly over the run and patrol the property for bugs and ticks----they are worth the racket.
I have about 30 mixed breed chickens--I've been hatching my own eggs from the Easter Eggers, and Jersey Giants with a few other genes thrown in.
I built a larger run this year as I could no longer deal with the constant predation---mostly from neighborhood dog packs and foxes.
I use the deep litter method on a dirt floor that is below ground level, the coop is on a deep brick foundation.
The dust bath is a tractor tire filled with sand and wood ashes.
I have mulberry trees in the run to help feed the chickens, I also have planted Apple and Persimmons in the larger run I built this year. I grow extra tomatoes in cages inside the run---they grow up and over the cage dropping tomatoes til frost. My garden is next to the run and all surplus and spoiled veggies go to the chickens.
I raise Guineas with the Chickens, they fly over the run and patrol the property for bugs and ticks----they are worth the racket.
