Ribh's D'Coopage

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

When we built the coop I asked the man to put in garden beds. It was always my intention to grow herbs around the coop ~ for the birds health & to give insects the flick. To date I have been notoriously unsuccessful! My girls have eaten everything down to the nub before I can protect it or it can establish itself. It has not helped that the narrow bed is a favourite dustbathing spot.

Plus... I have practically killed my mint. Mint is almost indestructible & a weed in most places I've ever lived, but here between grubs & kiddiewinks, it has struggled to survive. Nothing deterred I have persisted. If nothing else a bunch of herbs makes the coop area smell sooo much better!

I think I might have finally managed it....? Maybe...?
It is not attractive but it has deterred the girls so far. I bought bigger plants rather than the tube stock we generally prefer & have shoved bricks in the bed to protect the roots
The mint is struggling again but seems to be bouncing back. I am really hoping for success this time so the herbs are well established in time for the summer heat & mozzie season.
View attachment 2697138​

Hanging baskets are a clever way to keep the chooks out of the herbs. Is that mint or lemon balm in the pot? The lemon balm in my garden has defeated the chooks so far.

I recognize the rosemary, but what is the plant at the front of the photo and the strappy leafed plant against the wall of the run?

I can recommend comfrey. My chooks love it and will eat it down to the ground if given the chance. Once it is established though it is very hardy. I keep mine in a kind of cage with some leaves sticking out so the chooks can't decimate it.

It's pretty small at the moment because it is recovering from not having a cage around it.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I know it's not Caturday but I thought you might enjoy seeing Belle relaxing on the wall shelves we have just reinstalled.

 

[Ribh]

Hanging baskets are a clever way to keep the chooks out of the herbs. Is that mint or lemon balm in the pot? The lemon balm in my garden has defeated the chooks so far.

I recognize the rosemary, but what is the plant at the front of the photo and the strappy leafed plant against the wall of the run?

I can recommend comfrey. My chooks love it and will eat it down to the ground if given the chance. Once it is established though it is very hardy. I keep mine in a kind of cage with some leaves sticking out so the chooks can't decimate it.

It's pretty small at the moment because it is recovering from not having a cage around it.
View attachment 2697839

Lemon balm in the top pot, mint in the bottom one. I have 2 different sorts of lavender & a curry plant @ the far end. The strappy things are native iris. They throw out runners. I used to grow comfrey in Toowoomba. It gets rather large, like rhubarb, so I haven't put any in here. I might if you think the chooks will eat it.

 

[Ribh]

I know it's not Caturday but I thought you might enjoy seeing Belle relaxing on the wall shelves we have just reinstalled.
View attachment 2697840

Beautiful Belle. She's found the perfect spot.

 

[RoyalChick]

I know it's not Caturday but I thought you might enjoy seeing Belle relaxing on the wall shelves we have just reinstalled.
View attachment 2697840

Love the shelves. I made a climbing wall on the wall facing the stairs going down to the basement. It has shelves and boxes and places to sharpen claws and things to bat around and hidey holes to sleep in.
It got a lot of use when they were kittens but now they don't seem as interested because the book shelves are way more interesting because they can destroy the books!

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Lemon balm in the top pot, mint in the bottom one. I have 2 different sorts of lavender & a curry plant @ the far end. The strappy things are native iris. They throw out runners. I used to grow comfrey in Toowoomba. It gets rather large, like rhubarb, so I haven't put any in here. I might if you think the chooks will eat it.

My girls love comfrey. I have several in the yard and up against the run. They poke their heads through the chicken wire and eat the leaves.

I can't guarantee yours will like it though....

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Love the shelves. I made a climbing wall on the wall facing the stairs going down to the basement. It has shelves and boxes and places to sharpen claws and things to bat around and hidey holes to sleep in.
It got a lot of use when they were kittens but now they don't seem as interested because the book shelves are way more interesting because they can destroy the books!

Sounds fantastic! I'd love to see a pic if you are willing to share. Play walls are the best.

Ours is next to the stairs so the cats have an alternate way up if the stairs themselves are blocked off by other cats or dogs.

 

[BY Bob]

Hanging baskets are a clever way to keep the chooks out of the herbs. Is that mint or lemon balm in the pot? The lemon balm in my garden has defeated the chooks so far.

I recognize the rosemary, but what is the plant at the front of the photo and the strappy leafed plant against the wall of the run?

I can recommend comfrey. My chooks love it and will eat it down to the ground if given the chance. Once it is established though it is very hardy. I keep mine in a kind of cage with some leaves sticking out so the chooks can't decimate it.

It's pretty small at the moment because it is recovering from not having a cage around it.
View attachment 2697839

Is this a spice I have never heard of?

 

[BY Bob]

I know it's not Caturday but I thought you might enjoy seeing Belle relaxing on the wall shelves we have just reinstalled.
View attachment 2697840

Did you install that just for the cats?