VERTICAL GARDENING ON YOUR CHICKEN RUN FENCING

[iwiw60]

I ran across this page today and just wanted to share...I'm going to try this (even though I have a 'brown thumb'!!):

http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/vertical-gardening-on-your-chicken-coop-fencing/?blogger=elewis

 

[lazy gardener]

I like it!

 

[bucky52]

I like that.gardening and chickens.can't get any better.I just might try my hand of that.

 

[sixcitychicks]

Let us know if the chickens get more food than you do!

 

[lazy gardener]

I have an idea rolling around in my head, but not enough time to try it this year. I want to cut the side walls out of one side of 3 tires, and lay them on the ground with the side walls down, the cut side up in a triangle pattern. Then, fill 2 of them with soil, and erect a sapling teepee with one sapling in each tire. The third tire would be filled with coarse sand for a dust bath. The soil filled tires would need some fencing to keep the chickens out of them, then they could be planted with any vine crop of your choosing. Hopefully, the chickens would not totally destroy the growing vines. This would provide them with shade, dust bath, and aerial predator protection. I've heard that cucumber beetles are repelled by the scent of rubber.

 

[SunshineAnShade]

I have an idea rolling around in my head, but not enough time to try it this year.  I want to cut the side walls out of one side of 3 tires, and lay them on the ground with the side walls down, the cut side up in a triangle pattern.  Then, fill 2 of them with soil, and erect a sapling teepee with one sapling in each tire.  The third tire would be filled with coarse sand for a dust bath.  The soil filled tires would need some fencing to keep the chickens out of them, then they could be planted with any vine crop of your choosing.  Hopefully, the chickens would not totally destroy the growing vines.  This would provide them with shade, dust bath, and aerial predator protection.  I've heard that cucumber beetles are repelled by the scent of rubber.  

Have you tried this? Im intrigued as well as the vertical gardening!

 

[aggiemae]

You'd have to plant things chickens don't eat or grow on mesh that it tight enough to keep them from pecking thru it. We planted bamboo in the corner of the run because the chickens like to hang out in the cool shade under the other bamboos in the yard and we had to start restricting them some since out yard was starting to resemble the moon, craters and all.. Theyehere eating the new shouts so I blocked the plants off for a few weeks and now they are growing faster than the girls can eat them. We also have a large laurel in the run, tchickens don''t eat it at all. Laurel is inexpensive, it grows fast and provides lots of shade in in a few years strong branches to roost on.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sunshine... like a lot of my musings, they get lost in the brain cobwebs... I got too busy with regular gardening to try this, but I did get 3 tires for my garden. I filled them with alternating layers of soil and chicken compost, and put tomatoes/squash in them. The plants in the tires are outperforming those planted in the garden. Of course, they do have the benefit of chicken compost... but... I'm so impressed with the tires that I will repeat the plan, and add more tires next year. I think Bee used a tire in her coop to set the pan of water in the winter. The tire acted as a heat sink, to help keep the water thawed. The tires, even with side walls intact would provide good opportunity to add some chicken beak deterrent in the run. (wrap the tire with hardware cloth) You could even use a single very large tire, with holes drilled in the top sidewall to attach strings around the perimeter, then to the top of a single pole set in the middle of the tire. All kinds of possibilities!

 

[SunshineAnShade]

Sunshine... like a lot of my musings, they get lost in the brain cobwebs... I got too busy with regular gardening to try this, but I did get 3 tires for my garden.  I filled them with alternating layers of soil and chicken compost, and put tomatoes/squash in them.  The plants in the tires are outperforming those planted in the garden.  Of course, they do have the benefit of chicken compost... but... I'm so impressed with the tires that I will repeat the plan, and add more tires next year.  I think Bee used a tire in her coop to set the pan of water in the winter.  The tire acted as a heat sink, to help keep the water thawed.  The tires, even with side walls intact would provide good opportunity to add some chicken beak deterrent in the run.  (wrap the tire with hardware cloth)  You could even use a single very large tire, with holes drilled in the top sidewall to attach strings around the perimeter, then to the top of a single pole set in the middle of the tire.  All kinds of possibilities!  

I love the idea but have no clue as to were i would find old large tires...craigslist maybe? Regardless, i would love to see yours! Do you have any pics? Those are very good ideas!

 

[lazy gardener]

Old tires, that's easy. Go to any small auto repair shop, or even a tire store. They pay a disposal fee. I bet they'd be glad to unload as many as you can carry. I have pics, but am computer challenged. One of these days, I'll see what I can do about getting some pics posted.