((Serious Gardening))

[Smittenroade]

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Heh I have Game chickens and Leghorns which are both super flighty and we keep in the covered pen's now but being flighty has saved them alot too from things like dogs. I had 2 RIR's that couldn't get away from our weiner dogs and they were toast. I nipped that problem in the bud tho, its really hard but you CAN train weiner dogs to not kill the chickens. We leave them alone all the time now, also my border collie will herd our weiner dog away from the chickens lol. She just lays down infront of them over and over until they lose interest. Funny stuff...

But yea, you are right about the bigger bodied chickens. The RIR's were startled over and our Cornish X's were able to fly over but far too lazy even when startled. I would put sometihng like EE's in there for sure, even possibly clip a wing.

 

[Kassaundra]

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Heh I have Game chickens and Leghorns which are both super flighty and we keep in the covered pen's now but being flighty has saved them alot too from things like dogs. I had 2 RIR's that couldn't get away from our weiner dogs and they were toast. I nipped that problem in the bud tho, its really hard but you CAN train weiner dogs to not kill the chickens. We leave them alone all the time now, also my border collie will herd our weiner dog away from the chickens lol. She just lays down infront of them over and over until they lose interest. Funny stuff...

But yea, you are right about the bigger bodied chickens. The RIR's were startled over and our Cornish X's were able to fly over but far too lazy even when startled. I would put sometihng like EE's in there for sure, even possibly clip a wing.

I was prepaired to clip the wing/s, but so far haven't needed to. It has been months since anyone has gotten out. They rotate into a new run/garden area every 3 weeks, so maybe that is enough for them to not want to escape.

 

[Kassaundra]

Okay for those of you who thought my chicken/garden idea was a little out there hang on to your hats, this is my other experiment this year have no idea how it will go but here are the pics. The basic idea is to grow veggies in water no soil. I have rigged together a childs pool, put chicken poop and oyster shell (b/c I'm grow tomatoes in it too) floated styrofoam, cut cup size holes, cut holes in the bottom of the cups put a little dryer lint (just to hold the seeds until they sprout) and voila.

Here are the supplies, I am going to add an airstone.

Here it is all put together

 

[NanaKat]

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How will you keep the styrafoam sheets from lifting rom the pool when the winds pick up? Ar you tying it off?

 

[Kassaundra]

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How will you keep the styrafoam sheets from lifting rom the pool when the winds pick up? Ar you tying it off?

I will tie it down w/ strings or wire if I need to. That will only be a problem in the early stages I think. Once the plants start growing they should weigh it down

This is a complete experiment for me I am going to trouble shoot as I go, and probably ask for opinions or suggestions as things come up.

 

[silkiechicken]

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It will be interesting to see how well the liquid raft system will work for things other than leafy greens. I use a liquid raft (after a ebb flow accident) to grow lettuce for burgers. This way I don't have to throw out 80% of a head of lettuce and i can pick what I need. (We don't eat salads)

I have a feeling though, if those tomato plants take off, it may sink your raft. Tomato plants are heavy!

 

[galanie]

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I love this idea. It's totally out there so I guess that's why it appeals to me

I'm always thinking up stuff that seems - different - too. I'm thinking you'll need some way to support the plants once they get some size to them. I'll be really interested to see how this plays out.

 

[Kassaundra]

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I love this idea. It's totally out there so I guess that's why it appeals to me

I'm always thinking up stuff that seems - different - too. I'm thinking you'll need some way to support the plants once they get some size to them. I'll be really interested to see how this plays out.

Yes I think I will need a support system if they do well, I was thinking about some kind of pvc armature, but am waiting to see if the plants are going to grow first.

silkiechicken, Don't eat salad!!!! I'd starve

I figured it would do well for the leafies (from an inside overwinter ebb and flow experiment) but I put a little of everything in specifically to see if it would do anything else. I also put lettuce in even though we are way to hot now for lettuce just to see if the season could be extended w/ this.

 

[NanaKat]

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How will you keep the styrafoam sheets from lifting rom the pool when the winds pick up? Ar you tying it off?

I will tie it down w/ strings or wire if I need to. That will only be a problem in the early stages I think. Once the plants start growing they should weigh it down

This is a complete experiment for me I am going to trouble shoot as I go, and probably ask for opinions or suggestions as things come up.

Looks like wire could be stretched across the top and attached to a loop of wire under the rim....
As for a support system. T-post in the ground on the sides could support wire stretched between them to tie plants to....

 

[Young Heritage]

Also think about the plants just falling over. Normally in hydroponics you have some medium that the seed is started in that has some rigidity like rockwool or grow rocks. Wet Dryer lint has none. Unless the plant stalk is as big a round as the cup it is going in I would think it would tip over. I would add small rocks or maybe even lava rocks to the cups with the dryer lint and seed in the middle surrounded by rocks. Just my 2 cents. I have done hydroponics for about 8 years now. Other than that this should work somewhat. I would also be worried about the nutrients for the plants. You have nothing but nitrogen and calcium in the water, correct?