The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

We finally have a break in the weather. It is actually nice outside. Not raining and not a tinder box. The chickens seem so happy. I tried weeding this morning and the skeeders chased me out. I heard on another thread(Vickie) that dryer sheets will keep them away and i am going to invest in a chicken box of dryer sheets next time I go shopping. It keeps them out of the coop too.
 
Your garden and coop area is gorgeous! These pictures look like something from a gardening book or a children's book. I'm sure children would love strolling through, their little imaginations would run wild. Can you pm me the list of seeds too?

Thank you so much for sharing your little oasis! -Lynn
Thank you Lynn and everyone with the kind words. I planted my yards and gardens with my four children in mind starting twenty five years ago. One of my childrens favorite books was by Beatrix Potter and the story of Benjamin Bunny. They also loved the books by Tasha Tudor. I used Mr. McGregors garden as inspiration for my Potager garden and I have been a fan of Tasha Tudors gardens for many years. My oldest daughters favorite book is The Secret Garden. If my gardens ring a bell for old childrens stories, there is a reason for that.



It is not only a private oasis for me and my family, but it's a wildlife habitat of sorts as well. Though these days I don't encourage squirrels and deer like in the past. My flowers are geared towards old fashioned varieties and chicken friendly. Blue berry bushes, currants, gooseberries, wild plum and cherry and dwarf apple trees are throughout. The chickens eat dropped fruit and nibble leaves and flowers. They don't really hurt anything except in early spring when things are just coming up. That's when I keep them out of the potager garden and the chick run is off limits to adult birds. The back of the chick house and run is another 1/3 of an acre planted much the same way that the flock is allowed to free range in.
I used to run a back yard nursery where the barn yard is back in 1988 until 1996. I sold mostly own root roses and perennial starts from my garden. I couldn't keep up with demand so shut my gate to the public for good. I sold cut flowers to bed and breakfast inns, weddings, and up scale resturants for a while after that until the demand for that became a burden too. Now days few people outside of my immediate family know what's behind the rose hedge.

This is what people driving by on the main street see right now. My turkey hoop coop and barn are behind this.

This is the rambler and honeysuckle growing up and over the fence and cherry tree that the lady is taking buckets of bouquets from this morning. She and most people have no idea what is on the other side. My flock forage under this rambler and cherry tree for dropped fruit and bugs in the leaf litter.An added benefit to my flock is the protection from hawks and eagles this shrubbery provides. I use no poisons in my garden. Period.

I grow old fashioned roses that are not commonly available in most nurseries. The perennials, biennials, and annuals are also old fashioned. Not the hybrid stuff that Monsanto puts out. I collect and save seeds. I'll share seeds for the asking if there is enough. I divide perennials and if I like them and they do well, I plant more. I toss stuff into the compost pile for the chickens if they don't thrive in the garden. Except for the vegetable garden, my place is sustainable.
 
Last edited:
We finally have a break in the weather. It is actually nice outside. Not raining and not a tinder box. The chickens seem so happy. I tried weeding this morning and the skeeders chased me out. I heard on another thread(Vickie) that dryer sheets will keep them away and i am going to invest in a chicken box of dryer sheets next time I go shopping. It keeps them out of the coop too.
You tell me if that works!! I have lots of dryer sheets I can spare :D
 

So here is my stealth rooster. 14 weeks old. A little late developing!



I like this guy better than his more advanced brother. He has a heavier body.


Sorry the first picture is way over exposed. It is full on sunny here. I could hardly stand to take these pictures it is very hot...It's 100 right now, going up to 104.
 
Was away from the computer for 10 days for my move, finally get Internet, and I come back to nearly 800 new posts in this thread! Yikes. I hope everyone's having a great summer & all is well. Sending hugs everyone's way. Now it's back to unpacking... :D
 
Last edited:
My chicken luck went south again. Found henry with Steven in his mouth(My silkie rooster) He didnt make it. I had to process him. Im so mad at this dog right now I could shoot him. Hes also the dog that almost killed my mottled houdan last time
 
@Justine: I love love love those Reds!
love.gif


@Camille: Oh No! So frustrating. Chicken killing dogs do not often overcome this in my experience. I hope yours can be trained.

@Brandi Leah: Mine too. I love how they will play tag with even the tiniest bit of morsel.

@Quailsong: Welcome back. I don't mind unpacking if the new place is worth it.

I butchered cabbage today. The big birds ignored the leaves but the Silkies loved them.

My favorite salad is slaw freshly made.


There is a surprising amount of green to cut off of cabbage.The Silkies love all the plants in the Brassica family. The rest of the flock taste and leave it alone.

A small head is still a lot of cabbage.


My husband and I love slaw but this bowl will last us a few days and then the chickens will get it.
 
My chicken luck went south again. Found henry with Steven in his mouth(My silkie rooster) He didnt make it. I had to process him. Im so mad at this dog right now I could shoot him. Hes also the dog that almost killed my mottled houdan last time
Oh no Camille! :( :(

Henry was doing so well when we were over, but his interest was very captured by the chickens, which is something you will have to work on.

Poor Steven.. :(
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom