Re: What to grow in a chicken garden/run?


"David (in Normandy)" <none@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:44d25c66$0$1010$ba4acef3@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I plan to keep a few (4) free range chickens next year. Just enough to
provide eggs for the two of us. They will have around 1/4 acre to
themselves
that they can roam and scratch about in. It has finally been cleared of
the
impenetrable jungle of brambles and bindweed that occupied the land and is
now cultivated, weed free bare earth and ready for planting up with
"something?".

I'd like to plant and establish things there now that chickens would like
to eat? I've not kept chickens before and the books I've read about the
subject are a bit vague about the plants to grow. I could just plant grass
(what variety?) but think perhaps an assortment of various "weeds" or
other
plants should be encouraged too for a balanced diet. Perhaps also plants
that attract insects that the chickens can eat too. Any suggestions
anyone?

ASk locally for specifics as the farmers and gamekeepers in the area will
know what your soils can grow best

- a herb - rich seed mix that will create the tightest and most vigorous
sward. Old pasture is much better for birds. Young pasture is at risk of
them tearing it up. You will need a method of keeping this topped out at
about 4 inches long throughout the growing season to keep it in good
condition. Leave strips in the mowings so that some can go to seed and for
shelter
- game cover in strips across the paddock but with gaps for you to get
through and for you to drag your housing through so you can put the house in
different parts of the paddock as each area gets used up - google this but
ask locally too once you have a species list as to what will grow in your
soils and climate.- kale, other brassicas, quinoa [superb if you can grow it
but Very expensive], lucerne/alfalfa, peas, beans, -- check the lists for
other ideas. You can incorporate growing your own brassicas with this and
even your own peas/ beans etc if you are prepared to protect the growing
crops.
- Kale, Broccoli, Sprouts, Cabbages, etc -- just grow more in patches over
the area. Crop one area for you and then let the birds in to clear up; move
on to the next area.
-Peas and beans - once you take your crop then the birds can have the
plants. Or dry them to make a legume "hay" which they can enjoy in the
winter hung up to pull at.
- Evergreen shrubs and trees - in clumps for shelter and for dust bathing
under
- Deciduous trees and shrubs preferably as hedgerow to attract the best
communities of insects and other life. There is nothing like a native
flowering hedgerow for high species diversity. Oak is probably still the
highest species number habitat -- weeds like Sycamore are the lowest.
Buckthorn, Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Rowan, Elderberry, Guelder Rose, Dog Rose
etc etc - and you have the added advantage of fruit crops for yourself.

For other ideas look up managing ground for pheasants, partridge, and other
game
Keep the sward really well managed for the next few years - the birds will
need to be moved frequently and the rest of it topped. New pasture is VERY
weak.

there is probably lots else

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk


.

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