Suburban to farm

[BroodyMama1]

So all my life I have always wanted a farm with lots of acres. But I am not at that point in my life. I currently live in the suburbs but have a decent size back yard. I’d like to start a small farm with it. I need help figuring out the best space for everything. 2 coops, fire pit, trees, garden, trampoline and just some area for the kids and dog to play. Any suggestions? The outline is my usable area. And what would be the best plants/tree for Kentucky climate? To use for family and chicken feed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I've mixed chickens (8 housing units), vegetables (4 40'X4' raised beds), fruit (trees/berries), honey bees, etc. into a backyard.
One of the biggest challenges IMHO is that chickens need shade, vegetables need sun.
You can provide shade with fruit trees, shrubs toward the north side of the yard so the herbs, vegetables, etc, can get the sun they need.
You can build elevated chicken coops to give them a cool spot under the buildings for respite from the sun and a dry place to dust bathe.
I prefer to build coops under high shade. A sunny spot makes for an extremely hot coop at 4PM on a summer day and does nothing to help at 4AM on a January morning.

 

[BroodyMama1]

I have only one baby oat tree right now. No shade coming from that little guy. My new coop I’ll be putting a tarp over the attached run and I have a deck they can go under.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You could build a pergola type trellis like those used for hops or kiwi. You can grow grapes on them too and they will provide shade for the chickens in summer and won't take up any ground space.
http://foodproduction101.com/how-to-build-a-trellis-for-hardy-kiwi/
http://www.dfwcustoms.com/?image=ht...-pergola-l-a6e097396e1de918.jpg&title=Pergola Trellis Wine Seriously&tag=Trellis Pergola

For shading, I like 80 or 90% shade cloth.
You can get discounted remnants at FarmTek.
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ScroungeCentralDisplay?catalogId=11551&categoryId=231453&group=CL_RB&E10=Y&top=N&breadcrumb_trail=|Shade+Remnants&breadcrumb_categoryIds=|231453&maxRecords=20
You may want to shade the roof of the coop too which will prevent it from getting too hot.

 

[Arielle2]

You could build a pergola type trellis like those used for hops or kiwi. You can grow grapes on them too and they will provide shade for the chickens in summer and won't take up any ground space.
http://foodproduction101.com/how-to-build-a-trellis-for-hardy-kiwi/
http://www.dfwcustoms.com/?image=ht...-pergola-l-a6e097396e1de918.jpg&title=Pergola Trellis Wine Seriously&tag=Trellis Pergola

For shading, I like 80 or 90% shade cloth.
You can get discounted remnants at FarmTek.
http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/ScroungeCentralDisplay?catalogId=11551&categoryId=231453&group=CL_RB&E10=Y&top=N&breadcrumb_trail=|Shade+Remnants&breadcrumb_categoryIds=|231453&maxRecords=20
You may want to shade the roof of the coop too which will prevent it from getting too hot.

CC, you always have great ideas.

 

[BroodyMama1]

I was looking at what I need for building stuff and material prices are crazy

 

[lazy gardener]

Check out cattle panel coops. You could build a CP coop, and use it for that now. Then, if and when you build a stick built coop, you could convert the CP to a chicken tractor or a green house!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

CC, you always have great ideas.

I learned a long time ago that when one runs out of space for gardening, go up, think vertical. Among other things, espalier, pergola, trellis, container gardening, window boxes, rooftop gardening, etc..

 

[deepbluesea]

If Kentucky summers get as hot as North Carolina ones, shade is going to be your biggest need. Having a deck for them to hang out under is good. You can also grow vines over their run for shade, and have a cool spot under your coop for dust bathing.

For gardening, you're going to need to fence it away from your chickens during the planting seasons. I open mine up after I finish the last winter harvest and let them till and fertilize it for me. Not sure what your soil is like, but raised beds can be helpful while you're building the in-ground dirt up. Tall stuff to the north side to not shade out the other plants. If you get a cattle panel like lazy gardener said, you can make a hoop over a raised bed and grow beans, moonflowers, small melons or cukes over it to create a cooler area for greens that might bolt otherwise.

Good luck and take pics!