Runs and Crops...

[team_realtree]

I was wondering if anyone could give me some insight on this plan or tell me if you see anything wrong with it.

I want to plant some potatoes in the area that the chickens run is in. Is there a problem with doing this?

Considering that you have to hill the potatoes and also that the plants get relatively tall. I figure it would attract alot of bugs which is good for the chickens and also the chickens would eat the bugs which is good for the potatoes. However the chickens would be underneath the plants when they get tall....

Also the rows will be 2.5 feet apart so it wont be completely covered up there will be little lanes between rows.

 

[PunkinPeep]

I would be very surprised if the plants were ever able to grow. My chickens eat everything around them that sprouts green. If i want a garden, it will definitely have to be fenced off from the chickens to have a chance.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

Yup like they said. Chickens ate the 2 gardens I planted last year. I have no flowerbeds left. It's good to let them loose in the in the fall or early spring but not when you have plants growning. They just looooooooooove tomato plants!!

ETA--I've seen a design called a "Chicken Moat" where the garden is in the middle and the chickens have an enclosed fence area around the outside of the garden.

 

[team_realtree]

sorry i should have added....my chicks come in the end of april so they will be feathered out and in the coop by may. The plants will have been in there for a while. Not sure if that makes a difference...

Another thing: I'm new to growing potatoes. Does anyone know if the plants are maturing and I'm hilling them will it effect them that the chickens eat the leaves?

 

[Bandit]

My chickens came to our house last summer after the garden was up and growing, about 1-2 feet tall. They didn't bother it too much, just ate some of the ripe tomatoes. So if you fence it off for a while till it's up and healthy and then let them in, they will probably just do what mine did, hide under the plants and scratch up the worms and eat the grasshoppers.

 

[wildorchid053]

we planted potatos in the garden and they were ok with it...... till we dug them up.. they love them and wouldn't move away from the pitchfork lol...