Run through the corn?

[dorian_grey]

My family has decided to give raising chickens a shot (thanks greatly to all the info found on this site), and I was curious if I could include my fenced in corn patch as part of the run after the plants have been started.

The patch is roughly 60' x 40' and has a 8' fence.

I do have other range options but thought this would work well (and save me the work of building additional large runs).

Thanks David

 

[gumpsgirl]

You could include it, but I will warn you now. You won't get anything out of it! Chickens will eat anything they can get their beaks on, including your corn patch.

!!!

 

[Teach97]

I wouldn't unless you don't want as much corn...they will scratch and eat it...know a kid that raises chickens and farms wheat...around the house wheat does not grow...now having said that...if you were to keep them off of it for a good time then it might work...but once corn gets tall it gets awful humid in there

 

[dorian_grey]

Wow! Thanks for the quick reply.

The corn is going to be field corn some of which will be for the chickens anyway so I wasn't worried about losing a little but do not want to lose all!!

I didn't consider humidity so thanks for tha tip.

Maybe I should just build a new run and let them in the other once the corn is off.

Would the chickens damage established fruit trees or is that a bad idea too?

 

[Teach97]

I think they would be okay around the fruit trees until they had fruit in them and then you would be competing with them again...they would have a ball in the corn shicks! especially if you left some out there! Not much from a nutrition stand point in the husks but insects and such would be good for them

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

You might be able to rotate your chickens from one run to the other year to year and find that they have weeded and fertalized for you. We have an area that we pull everything out of at the end of the season then put the pigs in for a few weeks followed by the chickens for a few weeks and plant again in the spring.
We haven't had any problems with birds and our pear or apple trees.

 

[erinm]

love the screen name dorien grey. deliberate or actual name? ErinM

 

[dorian_grey]

The name "Dorian Grey" came from one of the first classic books I read, I liked the name and haved used it several times for screen names.

As for all the replies so far, I appreciate all the help and info. This has to be the most helpfull and entertaining message board of any I have experienced.

I have yet to finish a coop or even get birds yet but this info moves me that much closer.