Healthy soil and sustainable growing

[Gail Hoskisson Loper <loghillgail@msn.com>]

Thanks for all of the replies.  I had hoped that with only 13 chickens in a
3600 square foot garden keeping the bird in the fenced garden would work
out.  I guess no is the answer.

We're living on 35 acres of pinion, juniper and ponderosa forest with
abundant wildlife.  I seriously doubt the chickens could survive without
some sort of protection from the predators.

The batteries for my thinking cap seem to need replacing.  Any suggestions
for protecting these chicks would be appreciated.

Gail


On 4/16/07 12:03 PM, "Harvey Ussery" <huboxwood@earthlink.net> wrote:

>> Our plan is to let the chickens free range within the fenced garden.  My
>> question is will I have problems with the chickens eating my leafy greens?
>> 
>> Gail
> 
> Ken is right: Giving chickens free range inside your fenced garden will
> be a disaster for *all* your vegetable crops, not just the green leafy
> ones. Some crops the chickens wouldn't eat, but chickens are constantly
> scratching, and they will destroy any crop plant you are raising.
> 
> There are a couple of domestic fowl that are compatible with a garden.
> Geese have been used as weeders for certain crops, and guineas are
> excellent for insect control. Emphasis on "for certain crops"--there are
> crops either species wouldn't work well with.
> 
> I use guineas to control squash bug in my winter squash patch. Works great.
> 
> ~Harvey