We have 3 hens, a black rock, a northumberland blue and a sussex white. We got them at POL May 2011 and they lay between 2 and 3 eggs per day. They are such characters, great fun and really bring our garden to life. They love 'scratting' around in the garden when we let them out of their run. We don't free range them all of the time as we know there are foxes in the woodland nearby.
I wondered if I could ask a garden/chicken question? Our lawn really needs some attention. I'd like to feed it and also apply some lawn weedkiller but I'm guessing the products will be toxic to chickens? Does anyone know if there are any lawn products which are safe to chickens?
For what its worth, I have 5 ex bats. Had them for about 3 years now. Their diet is predominately mixed corn, with some layers pellets thrown in. They get all their grit from their run, appx. 30 sq. yds. They have boiled potatoe skins and love pasta and porridge. No probs at all, just too many eggs sometimes, ha ha. No soft shells though.
They are the greatest characters and come out with me into the garden. We surround ourselves with wire netting and they have a great time following the fork.There are always exceptions to every rule.
We have 3 hens, a black rock, a northumberland blue and a sussex white. We got them at POL May 2011 and they lay between 2 and 3 eggs per day. They are such characters, great fun and really bring our garden to life. They love 'scratting' around in the garden when we let them out of their run. We don't free range them all of the time as we know there are foxes in the woodland nearby.
I wondered if I could ask a garden/chicken question? Our lawn really needs some attention. I'd like to feed it and also apply some lawn weedkiller but I'm guessing the products will be toxic to chickens? Does anyone know if there are any lawn products which are safe to chickens?
I don't think there is anything really-last year around weed/feed time I confined them to the run for weeks.
According to the instructions it is more lethal to rabbits and grazing animals-but better safe than sorry.
I'm surprised, polegirl, that you have any grass left to weedkill! Mine has all gone. I'm thinking I will have to plant a variety of woody shrubs to stop the area looking like the Somme or the Sahara depending on the season.
Does anyone have any handy hints for what to plant in the 'free-range' part of the garden (which is the part nearest the house) so the chooks can have their fun but the humans have something nice to look at?
I'm surprised, polegirl, that you have any grass left to weedkill! Mine has all gone. I'm thinking I will have to plant a variety of woody shrubs to stop the area looking like the Somme or the Sahara depending on the season.
Does anyone have any handy hints for what to plant in the 'free-range' part of the garden (which is the part nearest the house) so the chooks can have their fun but the humans have something nice to look at?
Thank-you
FloBear
No eggs today - what's going on?
I think it must be the weather -we can blame that-we have not had six eggs in one day for months-just the way it is.I can emphasise about the Somme-I put bark chippings down in the run which just gets scratched away,the straw I put down on Thursday is just a soggy mess and they now have trench foot-(made up the last bit)
Oh Geoff! This does sound so similar to my own situation. I'm just back from the farm, having picked-up another bale of straw. I only have 3 hens, but their pen (although quite roomy) is just a quagmire..and they don't like it.
Over the past week I've been giving serious consideration to covering their enclosure, though it would be quite expensive.
Mrs Geoff has had this idea of putting a tarpaulin or groundsheet over the top or even a gazebo-they have a covered pen inside the run and the bottom of the coop is like dust bath so there are dry areas.
The cover bit would be tricky too keep in place so going to hold off for now-the trouble is that there is no chance of it drying out sometime soon.
I can see someone going over like Margot from the Good Life
this book is great fpr ideas of chicken and people friendly gardens: "Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard" by Kate Baldwin. On the quagmire subject, I have a run, but also a Cube with attached run with a clear plastic cover, so they have a nice dry area in the rain - my Brahmas need it with their feathered feet!
FloBear, you asked for suggestions for plants for your 'free range' area of your garden. Would leycesteria formosa (pheasant berry) grow there? It grows tall enough that the hens can't jump up to eat it all, and it has attractive flowers and berries which they love. The only things that have survived in my hens' permanent run is one daffodil, one tulip and a kind of perennial onion.
Our run, about 9 foot square, is three quarters covered with clear corrugated plastic sheets. They have to be tied or weighted down VERY securely or you end up retrieving bits of broken sheet from all over the garden after a windy night!
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I can well understand, ChristyRose.
Given the recent wet weather, my chicken run is a quagmire, despite the fact I put fresh straw in there every day.
We have 3 hens, a black rock, a northumberland blue and a sussex white. We got them at POL May 2011 and they lay between 2 and 3 eggs per day. They are such characters, great fun and really bring our garden to life. They love 'scratting' around in the garden when we let them out of their run. We don't free range them all of the time as we know there are foxes in the woodland nearby.
I wondered if I could ask a garden/chicken question? Our lawn really needs some attention. I'd like to feed it and also apply some lawn weedkiller but I'm guessing the products will be toxic to chickens? Does anyone know if there are any lawn products which are safe to chickens?
For what its worth, I have 5 ex bats. Had them for about 3 years now. Their diet is predominately mixed corn, with some layers pellets thrown in. They get all their grit from their run, appx. 30 sq. yds. They have boiled potatoe skins and love pasta and porridge. No probs at all, just too many eggs sometimes, ha ha. No soft shells though.
They are the greatest characters and come out with me into the garden. We surround ourselves with wire netting and they have a great time following the fork.There are always exceptions to every rule.
I don't think there is anything really-last year around weed/feed time I confined them to the run for weeks.
According to the instructions it is more lethal to rabbits and grazing animals-but better safe than sorry.
Unless others know different?
I'm surprised, polegirl, that you have any grass left to weedkill! Mine has all gone. I'm thinking I will have to plant a variety of woody shrubs to stop the area looking like the Somme or the Sahara depending on the season.
Does anyone have any handy hints for what to plant in the 'free-range' part of the garden (which is the part nearest the house) so the chooks can have their fun but the humans have something nice to look at?
Thank-you
FloBear
No eggs today - what's going on?
I think it must be the weather -we can blame that-we have not had six eggs in one day for months-just the way it is.I can emphasise about the Somme-I put bark chippings down in the run which just gets scratched away,the straw I put down on Thursday is just a soggy mess and they now have trench foot-(made up the last bit
)
Oh Geoff! This does sound so similar to my own situation. I'm just back from the farm, having picked-up another bale of straw. I only have 3 hens, but their pen (although quite roomy) is just a quagmire..and they don't like it.
Over the past week I've been giving serious consideration to covering their enclosure, though it would be quite expensive.
Still they lay 3 eggs a day, for the most part.
Mrs Geoff has had this idea of putting a tarpaulin or groundsheet over the top or even a gazebo-they have a covered pen inside the run and the bottom of the coop is like dust bath so there are dry areas.
The cover bit would be tricky too keep in place so going to hold off for now-the trouble is that there is no chance of it drying out sometime soon.
I can see someone going over like Margot from the Good Life
this book is great fpr ideas of chicken and people friendly gardens: "Free-Range Chicken Gardens: How to Create a Beautiful, Chicken-Friendly Yard" by Kate Baldwin. On the quagmire subject, I have a run, but also a Cube with attached run with a clear plastic cover, so they have a nice dry area in the rain - my Brahmas need it with their feathered feet!
FloBear, you asked for suggestions for plants for your 'free range' area of your garden. Would leycesteria formosa (pheasant berry) grow there? It grows tall enough that the hens can't jump up to eat it all, and it has attractive flowers and berries which they love. The only things that have survived in my hens' permanent run is one daffodil, one tulip and a kind of perennial onion.
Our run, about 9 foot square, is three quarters covered with clear corrugated plastic sheets. They have to be tied or weighted down VERY securely or you end up retrieving bits of broken sheet from all over the garden after a windy night!