Another chicken question....

[Annpan]

Is it me or is the forum over-run by new chook owners these days

Anyway... question number 42...

I am keeping my chooks in a moveable run (a few sq m with a chicken wire roof) I have been moving the run to veg beds where I am just about to plant something. So the birds are on a mixture of dirt and grass clippings, and leafs I have swept up, and I have been throwing their food in on top of this. They scratch about and eat bits of grass and beasties they find and dust bathe in it but OH is a bit worried that they have too much dirt and will eat too much it.

So will they?

Would it be best for us to keep them just on grass (I would rather keep them on the veg beds where I want them to scratch up beasties, eat weeds etc)

[Gert]

Hi

Personally I don't see a problem with it, if they are getting some feed as well as whatever they can dig up, they should be fine. They are cheap rotavators
Maybe stick a cabbage in there for them to peck at.
If It's your veg beds they are in then it's not as if is a permanent thing so they should be fine, just stick them on some grass once you have planted.

My two p's worth

Gert

[Annpan]

Thanks,

Yes they are on each bed for 2 or 3 days (a rotovator, that is exactly what they are - It is a permaculture principle of a chook tractor) I put all kinds of bits in with them to peck and scratch at. While working on another bed just now I put in more bits of roots, grass, dandelions, slugs and we have 2 big sections of log for them to jump on and off of too.

I obviously haven't seen how well it work with regards to manuring the ground but I must say they do a fine job of preparing the ground for planting - I would highly recommend it.

[red]

nah they'll be find they wont eat too much dirt.. might prefer a bit of grass, but they wont eat too much dirt instead.

[Thomzo]

If you move them every couple of days, why not give them a day on grass every now and then. My neighbour's hens are just on dirt and have been fine. Remember that they are woodland birds so they might not have been able to access large amounts of grass but will have had lots of bare earth, leaves, roots and so on. Exactly what you are giving them.

Chooks rule!!!!

Zoe

[Annpan]

why not give them a day on grass every now and then.

Umm because they have another 16 beds to till for me before I can get them planted up They have plenty of grass in the orchard to work over once they are done on the 'allotment'

[Thomzo]

Zoe

[red]

oh she's a hard task master.. making em work for a living

[Millymollymandy]

Well she did say from the start that they weren't pets......

[Annpan]

I don't know why, but I am not a 'pet' person. Even the cat was only brought in because she would kill mice and she has been a very cheap and efficient method of pest control, and she is very low maintenance.

Don't tell anyone but.... I don't really like the chickens very much... they are OK, and they might grow on me. Well I had to get up very early on Easter Sunday and Monday, they freaked me out when they pooped blood on day one and they still haven't laid any eggs.... so I think I am entitled to think that they should earn their keep.

Don't get me wrong though, I want them to be happy and they will be treated humanely at all times, doesn't mean I have to like them though.


At the in-laws at the week-end they were reluctant to offer us chicken to eat, cause they thought we might be sensative about it

Maybe I am pragmatic to a fault.

[bonniethomas06]

Annpan,
you need an automatic door!

I really battled with this as they are not cheap (£87) but my god it is worth it for the lie ins! Having kept chooks before this was the major thing that put me off having them again - but with the door opener it is a walk in the park, the only downside being mucking out!The best £87 I ever spent, even if it does mean that each egg so far has cost me about £15!

(I am not on commission I promise!)