Planting a garden in chicken land.

[littlethorn]

We have plants in our chicken play area but have had to fence them off with poultry wire domes and such. We just bend the wire into the shape we want, wire pieces together etc. and set it around whatever we don't want eaten. The reason being that everything they can get to will be toast including stuff they should not be eating. We even had them peck through the trunks of bananna trees in their run.

It's not as nice looking as leaving the plant unprotected but it's better than having no plants.

 

[Kassaundra]

When I got my chickens I got them specifically for my garden. I have a garden / chicken set up. I have two garden areas at the center of each garden area (30' x 30') is a raised coop, there are individual gardens (8) that radiate out from the coop (think tire spokes). Each individual garden is individually fenced and has a small chicken fence door at the coop side and a human fence gate at the outer side, so I can allow or deny access depending on what is growing. When the garden is actively growing they are denied access, but when I need them to clean up they are allowed in, most are open through the winter but right now each coop has two garden spots that are still growing. This spring I will start denying access as I plant various gardens, but there is always one they are allowed in. I can also pick and choose the most shaded in the hot summer (my east run / garden in each coop) to plan to have them in during our horrible summers.

I am hoping to add a chicken moat around the perimeter of both gardens to help act as a barrier the grass and insects, and grow my flock out to include some chickens for meat as well as my egg layers.

This was my first year to have my system up and running and it was the best garden I've ever had even though we had record breaking heat and drought (like broke records of all time since record keeping started)

It was time consuming and expensive to put all the fencing up, and the fencing isn't all that attractive but so far it has been awesome.

 

[Frost Homestead]

My chickens would strip my garden clean if they could get to it. The only way we've been able to keep them away from it is to put a 4 ft welded wire fence around it attached to some t-poles. Works great

 

[Imprfctme]

Kassaundra, could you post a photo or drawing of your garden plan? It sounds very cool. Thanks!

 

[spaceapple]

Quote:
Yes, please! I would love to see what it looks like too.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
Yes, please! I would love to see what it looks like too.

Here is a post I made in The Easy Gardener, a sister site to BYC I can post a drawing of it later, if this isn't clear.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31215

The opening statement about short term and long term gardens that didn't work out as planned. I don't do a set rotation now I rotate as needed. They spend several months during some times of the year in one spot, other times of the year they have more then one open to them, I am keeping it fluid and adaptable to adjust to growing conditions.

The pics here the gates look messier then they do now, the pallets were just temporary. These fences are not preditor proof at all the girls are locked up at night for protection.


Oh and one more thing there are updated pics through the thread (it is short though)

My husband came home and could show me how to scan, this is a simple line drawing just to give an idea, it is not to scale and I am not an artist.

 

[Imprfctme]

Thanks so much for posting this, K. I think my favorite part is the "Chicken Moat". I'm imagining chickens in little dragon or shark costumes roaming about going, Da-duh... da-duh... da-da-daaa! and snapping up caterpillars.

iPhone app developers, take note.

I already have a cedar wood fence with a pergola taking up the front part of my garden so I'm less inclined to scrap that and start over. Plus I have small children who like to run up and down the backyard but not so much help with the weeding. Maybe I will marinate over this during some blizzard next month. The magical kind of snowstorm that leaves me with free time, not the kind that requires me to spend 2-3 hrs shoveling plus entertaining little people all day.

 

[Kassaundra]

Quote:
LOL, close I plan on having a flock of NN in there!!!! lol

 

[trooper]

Quote:
Yes, please! I would love to see what it looks like too.

Here is a post I made in The Easy Gardener, a sister site to BYC I can post a drawing of it later, if this isn't clear.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=31215

The opening statement about short term and long term gardens that didn't work out as planned. I don't do a set rotation now I rotate as needed. They spend several months during some times of the year in one spot, other times of the year they have more then one open to them, I am keeping it fluid and adaptable to adjust to growing conditions.

The pics here the gates look messier then they do now, the pallets were just temporary. These fences are not preditor proof at all the girls are locked up at night for protection.


Oh and one more thing there are updated pics through the thread (it is short though)

My husband came home and could show me how to scan, this is a simple line drawing just to give an idea, it is not to scale and I am not an artist.

I Like your set up.I am wanting to set mine up with a garden of different plants,trees,and such.I especially like the set up with the berries.Thank you for your pictures.Keep up the good work.

e

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/66877_scan0002.jpg

 

[Linn Bee]

Quote:
Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! Sorry, I just got my chickens this summer and learned there is no co-mingling or sharing with chickens. They take their share first and nothing was left for me.

I let my chickens free-range, so this year I am fencing the garden in and the birds out.