Permaculture - using Bantams on veg plots

[jlgriff]

Hiya,

At my work we have plenty of veg patches and three bantams currently in a smaller coop than the larger free-rangers. I was wondering about putting the Bantams to use on the veg patches as fertiliser and for bug-picking (enrichment for them too!) and was wondering if anybody had any good tips on this from experience, or could recommend a course or some good webpages on this please?

Thanks!

Jessica

 

[yyz0yyz0]

Here's a couple of articles from Mother Earth News on this subject.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/home...k/chicken-manure-fertilizer-zm0z13amzkon.aspx

http://www.motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/garden-pest-control-zmaz88mjzgoe.aspx

You'll want to keep the birds out of newly planted gardens as well as beds that have tender plants. From my experience so for with my birds, they love corn patches(lots of cover and open underneath), and trellised plants seem to be safe so far.

Some things need protection from being eaten while others need protection from scratching. Before planting and late in the season seem to be the best times to let them roam through the garden.

 

[jlgriff]

Oh that's lovely, loads of stuff . Thank you!