Comments on: Chickens in the Garden http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/ Cultivating the best of gardening, vintage containers, home-grown food, and vineyard lifestyle. Thu, 17 May 2012 13:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Angela Dawn http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-13828 Angela Dawn Wed, 02 May 2012 13:11:59 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-13828 Thank you so much! We are new at this :) Thank you so much! We are new at this :)

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-13422 Bonnie Manion Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:48:07 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-13422 Angela, if your chicks are only two weeks, I would suggest you keep them protected in a chicken coop or protected area. They are a little young to be letting them out in your yard. Usually, you want your chicks fully feathered and close to 2 months old before letting them out in the garden. They are very vulnerable to many types of predators. Yes, you should provide their growing mash at all times. When they are mature, even though they are out in the yard or garden, it is a good idea to provide their laying mash nearby. Thanks for your comment...VintageGardenGal Angela, if your chicks are only two weeks, I would suggest you keep them protected in a chicken coop or protected area. They are a little young to be letting them out in your yard. Usually, you want your chicks fully feathered and close to 2 months old before letting them out in the garden. They are very vulnerable to many types of predators. Yes, you should provide their growing mash at all times. When they are mature, even though they are out in the yard or garden, it is a good idea to provide their laying mash nearby. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Angela Dawn http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-13410 Angela Dawn Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:54:17 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-13410 Thank you for the reply. I've decided it's best also to just keep them out of the garden. We have a fence around it anyway so that helps. One more question please? Will foraging all day in the grass (we have a big fenced backyard) be enough for them as far as food until they go up at night, or should I make the feeder available for them at all times? They are not 2 weeks yet. Thank you for the reply. I’ve decided it’s best also to just keep them out of the garden. We have a fence around it anyway so that helps. One more question please? Will foraging all day in the grass (we have a big fenced backyard) be enough for them as far as food until they go up at night, or should I make the feeder available for them at all times? They are not 2 weeks yet.

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-12485 Bonnie Manion Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:01:40 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-12485 Angela, I personally keep my chickens out of my vegetable garden, but give them their own treats of lettuce and fresh fruits and vegetables everyday. Jessi Bloom has authored a book, Free-Range Chicken Gardens, How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken=Friendly Yard, available at Timber Press and Amazon. You might want to pick up a copy. Thanks for your comment...VintageGardenGal Angela, I personally keep my chickens out of my vegetable garden, but give them their own treats of lettuce and fresh fruits and vegetables everyday.
Jessi Bloom has authored a book, Free-Range Chicken Gardens, How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken=Friendly Yard, available at Timber Press and Amazon. You might want to pick up a copy. Thanks for your comment…VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Angela Dawn http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-12272 Angela Dawn Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:01:41 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-12272 We are getting our first chicks, and I was really looking forward to letting them in my vegetable garden under supervision. Is this pretty much impossible for me to do or would it be ok if I kept an eye on them? I do plan on growing eggplant and tomato but I thought they would have a great time foraging in the dirt. We are getting our first chicks, and I was really looking forward to letting them in my vegetable garden under supervision. Is this pretty much impossible for me to do or would it be ok if I kept an eye on them? I do plan on growing eggplant and tomato but I thought they would have a great time foraging in the dirt.

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-10964 Bonnie Manion Wed, 18 Apr 2012 17:12:11 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-10964 Raelene, your chickens should naturally head towards their chicken coop at dusk for protection. Try giving them treats like lettuce, etc, around the same time each day you want them to head into their coop, to get them trained and in a routine. I would warn you to protect your hens and goose in some sort of a shelter. Geese have predators, too. Geese and chickens are not supposed to be housed together because of disease. Chickens can tolerate cold to some degree, but wet and windy, and chilly is still not best. It is important to provide them shelter from wind, drafts, and wet in your cool months of weather. Thanks for sharing down under...VintageGardenGal Raelene, your chickens should naturally head towards their chicken coop at dusk for protection. Try giving them treats like lettuce, etc, around the same time each day you want them to head into their coop, to get them trained and in a routine. I would warn you to protect your hens and goose in some sort of a shelter. Geese have predators, too. Geese and chickens are not supposed to be housed together because of disease. Chickens can tolerate cold to some degree, but wet and windy, and chilly is still not best. It is important to provide them shelter from wind, drafts, and wet in your cool months of weather. Thanks for sharing down under…VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Raelene http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-9887 Raelene Thu, 12 Apr 2012 05:33:01 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-9887 Thanks for your tips on training the hens to get into their roost at night - I'll give that a go. I tried catching them and placing them into the hen house at night but they walk back out again!! They have a large hen house which they only use to lay eggs, and took over the goose's house which isn't much of a shelter now winter is on its way. So I removed the goose shelter so they are out sleeping in the cold! Will the weather actually pose a problem for them or am I just being over-cautious? I'm in Adelaide, Australia so it's just rainy and chilly in winter. Night predators aren't an issue as Sinatra the goose keeps watch over the yard at night. Thanks for your tips on training the hens to get into their roost at night – I’ll give that a go. I tried catching them and placing them into the hen house at night but they walk back out again!!
They have a large hen house which they only use to lay eggs, and took over the goose’s house which isn’t much of a shelter now winter is on its way. So I removed the goose shelter so they are out sleeping in the cold! Will the weather actually pose a problem for them or am I just being over-cautious? I’m in Adelaide, Australia so it’s just rainy and chilly in winter.
Night predators aren’t an issue as Sinatra the goose keeps watch over the yard at night.

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-950 Bonnie Manion Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:08:46 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-950 Hi Laura, I compost all of my chicken manure daily from my chicken coop. I actually shoo my chickens out of my vegetable garden if they get in it, mainly because their digging and scratching disturbs my tender vegetables. I don't want to sound misleading, one should always be careful of E coli, but I have not had any problems. I normally don't let me chickens into my vegetable garden, flower gardens, yes. Chickens should naturally head to their coop at dusk? Are your chickens young? New in their coop? You might want to entice them with a little lettuce at the door of the coop, same time every day to coax them into the coop till they get the hang of it. Thanks for sharing...VintageGardenGal Hi Laura,
I compost all of my chicken manure daily from my chicken coop. I actually shoo my chickens out of my vegetable garden if they get in it, mainly because their digging and scratching disturbs my tender vegetables. I don’t want to sound misleading, one should always be careful of E coli, but I have not had any problems. I normally don’t let me chickens into my vegetable garden, flower gardens, yes.

Chickens should naturally head to their coop at dusk? Are your chickens young? New in their coop? You might want to entice them with a little lettuce at the door of the coop, same time every day to coax them into the coop till they get the hang of it. Thanks for sharing…VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Laura http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-949 Laura Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:40:04 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-949 Hi Bonnie, I saw that you said there is no E coli risk if the chickens are pooping in the veggie garden. I have heard that uncomposted chicken manure is not safe on veggies you plan to eat fresh. You have heard something different? The other thing I want to ask you about is if you ever have problems with the chickens not wanting to come in even after dusk. I let my 7 chickens freerange in my yard recently and chased them for HOURS to get them to go back in the enclosed run/coop, so I'm scared to let them out again. Do you think if I had just waited until it got dark they would've gone in on their own? I have to let them take turns with my dogs if I let them out because my dogs think they are chew toys :( Thanks for any advice! -Laura Hi Bonnie,

I saw that you said there is no E coli risk if the chickens are pooping in the veggie garden. I have heard that uncomposted chicken manure is not safe on veggies you plan to eat fresh. You have heard something different?

The other thing I want to ask you about is if you ever have problems with the chickens not wanting to come in even after dusk. I let my 7 chickens freerange in my yard recently and chased them for HOURS to get them to go back in the enclosed run/coop, so I’m scared to let them out again. Do you think if I had just waited until it got dark they would’ve gone in on their own? I have to let them take turns with my dogs if I let them out because my dogs think they are chew toys :(

Thanks for any advice!

-Laura

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://www.vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-948 Bonnie Manion Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:05:10 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-948 Jane, if you want to let your hens free range, do it in daylight. Hens if they are out, will naturally go home to roost at dusk and for security. You can train them with treats like bread and lettuce. Anytime you are letting your hens out day or night to free range, there is danger for them. Especially, the environment you live in you are describing. Hawks, raccoons, coyotes, neighbor's dogs are only some of the dangers to them. Perhaps you can build a solid outside pen, with wiring on the top, too....VintageGardenGal Jane, if you want to let your hens free range, do it in daylight. Hens if they are out, will naturally go home to roost at dusk and for security. You can train them with treats like bread and lettuce. Anytime you are letting your hens out day or night to free range, there is danger for them. Especially, the environment you live in you are describing. Hawks, raccoons, coyotes, neighbor’s dogs are only some of the dangers to them. Perhaps you can build a solid outside pen, with wiring on the top, too….VintageGardenGal

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