What do you grow to feed the chickens??

[Arielle]

The price of blueberries will come down at all of the stores in a couple of weeks. I grow varieties that top out at 4' due to space restrictions. Favorite varieties are Chippewa (? sp.), and Top Hat.

GOod point-- will scope out walmarts stock and see if they have anything-- I don't travel far to get things I need. lol

My wild bushes are 6-8 feet, and we nibble around the sides. THe wild birds usually take the top berries and anything they can see. We fish amoung the leaves. I would like to grow enough to feed them , us and my stock too.

 

[Arielle]

My flock is weird...they won't touch strawberries or blueberries.

lol-- Perhaps mash the berries and add to something they do like. In yogurt, or FF perhaps.

Mine didnt like mice either until recentlyl

Now they do play keep away.

 

[quailtrail]

lol--  Perhaps mash the berries and add to something they do like.  ​In yogurt, or FF perhaps. 

Mine didnt like mice either until recentlyl    Now they do play keep away. 

thats a good idea!!!! I added it to cooked oatmeal and they ate around it lol!!!

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I found another online source that offers $10 plants and $5 for a smaller plant. I'm not always sure that a small plant is better. Huge variety of varieties.though

http://www.summerstonenursery.com/Catalog-Blueberries_1594.aspx

Need to discuss with DH-- might need to delay this purchase and just be happy with about 12 apple trees , couple pear trees and a cherry bush type.

 

[Arielle]

I realized that a section that used to be a run for a coop is baren and prbably a great place to put in a small gardne. About 10 x 10, to grow greens for the chickens and us.

I can fence the chickens OUT!!

 

[chickadoodles]

I realized that a section that used to be a run for a coop is baren and prbably a great place to put in a small gardne. About 10 x 10, to grow greens for the chickens and us.

I can fence the chickens OUT!!

That is a great idea!

 

[chickadoodles]

I found another online source that offers $10 plants and $5 for a smaller plant. I'm not always sure that a small plant is better. Huge variety of varieties.though

http://www.summerstonenursery.com/Catalog-Blueberries_1594.aspx

Need to discuss with DH-- might need to delay this purchase and just be happy with about 12 apple trees , couple pear trees and a cherry bush type.

Thanks I will book mark the page for later. Where are you getting your bush cherry from?

 

[Arielle]

Quote: same company. As I Recall it is the Hansen cherry-- a bush type with "cherries" along the stem. NEver actually seen one but figured the fruit location might be in reach of the chickens and turkeys.

 

[Arielle]

PS. I'm still looking for earlier fruiting bushes or trees. July seems to be the earliest in apple pear and peach. THe rasberreis seem to be earlier if I go by the "June bearer" title.Perhaps strawberries.

One of my concerns is the modern berries vs the older types. THe bitterness has been bred out of the modern types for better flavor, but the health benefits of the bitter fuits has importan health benefits.

I'm wondering how choke cherries are propgated?? We have a few but I would like more of them. Very bitter berries but when ripe are extraordinarily sweet and make wonderful jam. Half the berrry is pit , so a large quanitity is necessary.

 

[chickadoodles]

I believe there is a heritage raspberry that fruits multiple times through the season.