Comments on: Chickens in the Garden http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/ Cultivating the best of gardening, vintage containers, home-grown food, and vineyard lifestyle. Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:56:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bonnie Manion http://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://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://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

]]> By: Jane I Christmas Florida http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-947 Jane I Christmas Florida Sat, 03 Sep 2011 23:08:38 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-947 Hi All! I have about 23 hens RR; Aracanas and B-Rocks, all have been in my coop and run for about 5 months now and are just beginning to lay, I can pet most of them and they have a nice coop and laying boxes, I so want to let them free range when I am out in the evenings but am afraid they will not come back on thier own. They love bread do you thing if I go out in as the sun is setting with popcorn or bread they will all come? we do live in the country and have hawks, along with all other wild animals; they are safe in thier coop, please reassure me that it is o.k. to let them free range; should maybe I just start with 2 or 3 a day and test the waters? Hi All!
I have about 23 hens RR; Aracanas and B-Rocks, all have been in my coop and run for about 5 months now and are just beginning to lay, I can pet most of them and they have a nice coop and laying boxes, I so want to let them free range when I am out in the evenings but am afraid they will not come back on thier own. They love bread do you thing if I go out in as the sun is setting with popcorn or bread they will all come? we do live in the country and have hawks, along with all other wild animals; they are safe in thier coop, please reassure me that it is o.k. to let them free range; should maybe I just start with 2 or 3 a day and test the waters?

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-946 Bonnie Manion Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:06:22 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-946 Joanne, it depends on how old your new bantams are. Are they at least 2-3 months old? If they are at least 3 months old, I'd leave them in their coop for about two weeks, and then let them out with your others. Use your best judgement....VintageGardenGal Joanne, it depends on how old your new bantams are. Are they at least 2-3 months old? If they are at least 3 months old, I’d leave them in their coop for about two weeks, and then let them out with your others. Use your best judgement….VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Joanne in Suffolk, Uk http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-945 Joanne in Suffolk, Uk Thu, 25 Aug 2011 09:51:17 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-945 I have a bantam tro and yesterday bought a younger trio og chocolate partridge wyandottes to go with them, my older hens free roam all day and return home to roost at night. How long should I leave the new ones i. To know where 'home' is?? I have a bantam tro and yesterday bought a younger trio og chocolate partridge wyandottes to go with them, my older hens free roam all day and return home to roost at night. How long should I leave the new ones i. To know where ‘home’ is??

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-944 Bonnie Manion Sat, 09 Jul 2011 13:26:25 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-944 Jacquie, you know your chickens and yard best. With that said, I would wait till they are a little older, closer to three months old. I would caution you about letting your chickens free roam, especially without a fence protection and close to a road. It will only end in heartbreak. If you had an enclosed outside pen connected to your coop, you could be letting them out now. Chickens do like to roam large distances. Think about creating a safe fenced outside enclosure for them.....VintageGardenGal Jacquie, you know your chickens and yard best. With that said, I would wait till they are a little older, closer to three months old. I would caution you about letting your chickens free roam, especially without a fence protection and close to a road. It will only end in heartbreak. If you had an enclosed outside pen connected to your coop, you could be letting them out now. Chickens do like to roam large distances. Think about creating a safe fenced outside enclosure for them…..VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Jacquie http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-943 Jacquie Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:05:44 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-943 Is there a certain age chickens need to be before you can let then out to roam? My chicks are about 7 weeks olds. We have a fairly large yard but it is not fenced in however our road is not too busy. Are they old enough to know to return to the coop? Thanks so much great site! Is there a certain age chickens need to be before you can let then out to roam? My chicks are about 7 weeks olds. We have a fairly large yard but it is not fenced in however our road is not too busy. Are they old enough to know to return to the coop?
Thanks so much great site!

]]> By: Bonnie Manion http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-942 Bonnie Manion Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:22:20 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-942 Audrey, yes tomato and eggplant leaves are poisonous. There are also many other poisonous plants such as oleander, foxglove. If you have a vegetable garden, it is best to contain with a fence for one thing, and not allow your chickens roam in it. I have had a vegetable garden for years, planting lots of tomatoes, and my chickens have never been interested in them. It is best not to plant known poisonous plants around your chicken coop, and/or directly give your chickens anything but fresh greens, vegetables, and fruits that are good for them. Thanks for your great comment....VintageGardenGal Audrey, yes tomato and eggplant leaves are poisonous. There are also many other poisonous plants such as oleander, foxglove. If you have a vegetable garden, it is best to contain with a fence for one thing, and not allow your chickens roam in it. I have had a vegetable garden for years, planting lots of tomatoes, and my chickens have never been interested in them.

It is best not to plant known poisonous plants around your chicken coop, and/or directly give your chickens anything but fresh greens, vegetables, and fruits that are good for them. Thanks for your great comment….VintageGardenGal

]]> By: Audrey http://vintagegardengal.com/2010/02/04/chickens-in-the-garden/#comment-941 Audrey Wed, 22 Jun 2011 11:56:02 +0000 http://www.vintagegardengal.com/?p=5192#comment-941 I loved reading this. I have 8 mixed chicks almost 3 months old. I just love them and have fun watching them - they like watermelon and carrot tops, bread, etc. for treats. It is surprising how fast they grow! I want to let them out in our small backyard garden, too, but have heard that eggplant and tomato plants can be poisonous to chickens. Is this so, and do you know of any other plants that are dangerous to them? (I will exclude these from next season's garden.) Thank you so much. I loved reading this. I have 8 mixed chicks almost 3 months old. I just love them and have fun watching them – they like watermelon and carrot tops, bread, etc. for treats. It is surprising how fast they grow! I want to let them out in our small backyard garden, too, but have heard that eggplant and tomato plants can be poisonous to chickens. Is this so, and do you know of any other plants that are dangerous to them? (I will exclude these from next season’s garden.) Thank you so much.

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