This topic is still being discussed. Some literature on sustainable gardening for homesteaders suggests that chickens be kept in the backyard. The majority of the information about the process will be clear once you begin to read it. This sentiment is shared by most chicken keepers as well as experienced gardeners. It is true. It is true that chickens can be destructive but they are cute and adorable creatures of nature. Sometimes, however, they can be a blessing in disguise. However, this doesn’t mean you can get enough to destroy your garden beds. Can chickens live happily with their gardens forever? It is possible if you are in the right circumstances. Yes!
Over the years, we have developed a guideline for keeping chickens happy. It is possible to make it happen no matter where you are located with a few adjustments.
Many people recommend keeping chickens indoors. This solves all problems. This is a great reason chickens should be kept in a run. Many people are not aware of the risks and may be unwilling to take the chance on the benefits of free-range chickens. This article is for garden diggers as well as chicken keepers.
Accept the fact that there are always plants that chickens can be attracted too.
First, chickens cannot access certain plants without causing havoc. You can eat any type of vegetable, even leafy ones. Chickens will eat anything that isn’t edible. Chickens will eat potatoes and climb on top of tall vines to enjoy sweet, juicy tomatoes. They can even pick up small potatoes. Even though they are more mature and experienced, chickens will still eat lettuce and scratch at it even if there are many bugs and other worms. Here is a list of things chickens will destroy. These edibles can only be kept from chickens by fencing.
*Tomatoes
*Peas
*Berries for all occasions
*Leafy greens
*Most kitchen herbs, particularly new green fleshy plants.
*Squashes in winter and summer as well as gourds
*Beans
*Corn
*Quinoa
*Sorghum
*Short sunflowers
*Amaranth
*Ground Cherries
*Tomatillos
*Sweet, mild, or even screaming-hot peppers
*Eggplant
They will also eat anything you like. There have been some exceptions. However, I have never seen chickens eat roots of root vegetables. Although I have heard that chickens can eat potatoes, my chickens are not allowed to eat my potato plants. They will also eat the tops and greens of tomatoes.
Give them space.
Good news! The good news is that chickens will forage more in areas with lots of greens. Small barriers can be confusing or easily overlooked by chickens. My flock of ten chickens and one rooster is an example. The chicken wire fencing covers half their garden and is two feet high. That’s it. It is possible to let plants grow on fences, but they can sometimes get nipped. My chickens will not attempt to jump over chicken wire fences, if there is plenty of food and other activities. Picket fences that are shorter than average height can also be considered a problem. Chickens will be happy as long they can’t crawl under or around gaps. Chicken wire fencing made from chicken wire is easy to put up and inexpensive.
You can place ornamental plants in containers such as coleus, calendulas and impatiens. These containers will allow you to easily place plants in difficult-to-reach areas like high hanging baskets and window boxes.
You can have fun with the right plants.
Chickens can help in many ways. It’s amazing how much they can do with all their scratching and pooping. My shrubs and trees have chickens at their bases. They pull up insects from the ground and remove weeds from their roots. After introducing chickens to our farm, we have seen a decrease in mosquitoes. The larvae can be picked up by chickens from the ponds or pools and they will eat them. Petunias can be kept tidy by chickens by constantly picking at the new growth. This should be monitored. These perennial plants that chickens often overlook are those that make a difference in the landscape. They fill in any holes in the beds that they have access to.
These plants include:
*Daylilies
*Liatris
*Hardy Sages
*Hardy lavenders
*Evergreens are pines and Junipers
*Creeping Thame
*Penstemons
*Hollyhocks and all malva
*Marigolds
Chicks and Hens
*Yucca
*Sedums
*Astilbes
*Jacobs ladder
*Aruncus-All types of it
*Native North American prairie plants
*Pulmonaria
There are many choices. You will need to experiment more to find the right plants for your chickens. Chicken keepers have told me many stories about their hostas and ferns being ignored by their chickens. My shade gardens were discovered by my chickens and my ferns and hostas were devoured immediately.
Maintaining mulch in the garden for chickens can be a tedious task. A weekly mower can be used to help remove any weeds the chickens may not see, such as the tiny woody tree seeds. This is a great way to add mulch and check the health of your landscaping. ).
Don’t believe birds are for you? Then get ducks.
If you are looking for farm-friendly birds to raise eggs, pets, or help with your garden, the duck might be a good option. Ducks can be gentle gardeners. Ducks eat bugs and fertilize plants as they go. My experience has shown that there is only one exception. Poor elephant ear bulb seeds didn’t have a chance against ducks. This is my only negative experience. They may be able walk on plants with their large feet, but they don’t cause any damage. Ducks can quickly decimate snail, larva, and slug populations. They can also decimate grasshopper populations. Even in a small yard, a barrier can keep them out. Ducks are less fussy than chickens, and they require less attention. A few ducks might be a better choice than chickens for the gardener.
You can have chickens and garden, provided that you’re careful and consider all the exceptions. We hope you found this article helpful and that it has provided some insight into what to do when keeping chickens and gardening together.