One suggestion - when you flip the compost… instead of just flipping it over …. Throw it into a tall pile. And the chickens 🐓 will tear down that mountain 🏔️ of mulch 🍁. I don’t know why … but chickens love to level things out,
When you add plants into your run, how do you plan to keep your chickens from devouring them? I've been trying to think of ways to get clover patches started in my run. However, those claws and long necks seem to be very good at getting greens clipped and roots dug up. Geoff Lawton uses them to clear to-be-garden land to great effect! My best idea thus far is to wrap a pallet in chicken wire and lay it flat on the ground, then seed the exposed ground under it. The chickens can eat the clover when it grows tall enough and is well established without killing it. Not an elegant idea so I am looking for inspiration.
Good question. We've thought of doing something similar to the pallet. Just build a rectangle frame on 2" x 4" pieces and then cover the top with hardware cloth or chicken wire. You could also get a clear tote box and put that over until well established.
Thank you, I was wondering if the snow would melt so the ladies would be able to get out there and forage for bugs in the wintertime. I was thinking of building up a mound row of much higher compost throughout the summer and fall so that it would be a super rich place for the winter.
I always loved the chicken compost run system. haven't gone into it yet. but I'm always concerned that it might attract infection into my farm through the moisture because it is always advisable to avoiding moist litter in the coop. any advice?
Luckily I just don't have that problem. I've had them in this set up for over a year and haven't lost a single bird to predators. Maybe because we're smack dab in a neighborhood. But I think the fence helps for raccoons (although of they really wanted they could grab a bird). And the low tree line helps with hawks.
Howdy from The Great State of Texas! 👋 Just wondering if you put down the mulch/wood chips all at once to be your base layer or did you build it gradually, adding whatever much and wood chips you happen to have on hand?
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Great video. Thanks for the knowledge.
Great video! Thank you for sharing!
One suggestion - when you flip the compost… instead of just flipping it over …. Throw it into a tall pile. And the chickens 🐓 will tear down that mountain 🏔️ of mulch 🍁. I don’t know why … but chickens love to level things out,
Nice video, you have good looking chickens. Also, I noticed they do have large talons.
This is a great setup! Thanks for sharing and explaining your ideas. I’m excited to see how you setup your chickens in your new homestead
Me too. This is definitely something we want to replicate at our new place.
excellent video
"Chickens are healthier when they're outside."
Yep, so are people.
very interesting!
When you add plants into your run, how do you plan to keep your chickens from devouring them? I've been trying to think of ways to get clover patches started in my run. However, those claws and long necks seem to be very good at getting greens clipped and roots dug up. Geoff Lawton uses them to clear to-be-garden land to great effect! My best idea thus far is to wrap a pallet in chicken wire and lay it flat on the ground, then seed the exposed ground under it. The chickens can eat the clover when it grows tall enough and is well established without killing it. Not an elegant idea so I am looking for inspiration.
Good question. We've thought of doing something similar to the pallet. Just build a rectangle frame on 2" x 4" pieces and then cover the top with hardware cloth or chicken wire. You could also get a clear tote box and put that over until well established.
Thank you, I was wondering if the snow would melt so the ladies would be able to get out there and forage for bugs in the wintertime. I was thinking of building up a mound row of much higher compost throughout the summer and fall so that it would be a super rich place for the winter.
That's a great idea!
I always loved the chicken compost run system. haven't gone into it yet. but I'm always concerned that it might attract infection into my farm through the moisture because it is always advisable to avoiding moist litter in the coop. any advice?
Just keep adding carbon like wood chips.
How do you keep hawks, racoons, skunks and eagles from eating your chickens?
Luckily I just don't have that problem. I've had them in this set up for over a year and haven't lost a single bird to predators. Maybe because we're smack dab in a neighborhood. But I think the fence helps for raccoons (although of they really wanted they could grab a bird). And the low tree line helps with hawks.
Do you need to turn the food scraps, wood chips, and chicken poop every so often? Or just let it keep building up naturally wherever it ends up?
We like to turn over spots every few days. In about a month or so, it all gets flipped.
Howdy from The Great State of Texas! 👋 Just wondering if you put down the mulch/wood chips all at once to be your base layer or did you build it gradually, adding whatever much and wood chips you happen to have on hand?
Yes! I should have mentioned that. 😅 We put down probably 10 cubic yards of wood chips and would occasionally add some in there too.