Before I screw up...any advice?

[birdlovin gal]

We are planning to build our coop at the end of the garden, which is a brand new tilled area in a field overrun with strawberry vine. My thought is to build their run 3 or 4' wide around the entire garden perimeter (25' x 35'), or at least on three sides of it. I am hoping my 6 girls will keep the garden weed/bug free.

Has anyone tried this? Does anyone see any problems with this idea? Is this too big an area for 6 chickens to keep up with?

We do not use any pesticides.

Thanks for any input you may have.

 

[siz8003]

Sounds really cool to me

 

[Guitartists]

What are you planting in the garden? They will typically eat anything and everything that they can get ahold of. If the plants are large you may be able to get away with it... but they will most likely sample the fruit

They completely stripped my honeysuckle vine and butterfly bush that they stumbled across.... I will be putting up a fence to keep them OUT of my garden!

Re-reading your post..... you will be keeping them OUT of the actual garden but run them along the edges in a long run? That would probably work nicely...and provide a barrier from other animals getting into the garden

If you need pollinating bugs to come and go you may only want to do 3 sides so that they do not have to always go through past the chickens...also it'll be easier to get wheelbarrows etc in and out of the garden...and also when you go to till the ground next year.

 

[birdlovin gal]

Yes, keeping them out - I want the fruit of my labor for me!

I was planning a WIDE swinging doorway that will open/close off the chickens when I am in the garden. Also to get in a tiller/wheelbarrow, etc.

I hadn't thought of good bugs not getting in...thanks! Still, I'd like to free range the girls when I can be out with them. Won't they head straight for the garden if given a chance?

 

[Guitartists]

I would say... yes

Mine have found the bird feeders and head right for them first thing in the day

 

[funkychickenowner]

Oh they defiantly will keep your Garden weed and pest free as well as veggie free they eat everything green and then some with no prejudice!

 

[birdlovin gal]

OK, so maybe I'll put their run on three sides, then just use a chain link fence on the last side to keep them out, yet let in the "good" bugs.

Any other thoughts of why this might not work? I really like the idea of having the girls keep out the strawberry vine, that stuff takes over when you turn your back...

 

[LynneP]

Since you're in Massachusetts and like us, you have every predator possible, be sure to build as though all of them are already drooling at the prospect of your having chickens! We've never been sorry for intensive barriers over and under the run and coop...

 

[patandchickens]

They are not going to keep the garden weed-free or bug-free. However, if you manage things carefully and are lucky you may have a few fewer bugs, and *possibly* a few fewer weeds.

Remember that the vast majority of pest insects FLY, and weed seeds are already in the soil or come in by runners or blow in as new seeds.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Ridgerunner]

What you are talking about is called a moat. This link is to a Mother Earth article about this concept.

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1988-05-01/The-Chicken-Moat-Enclosure.aspx

It will take a lot of work and will be expensive. And I second, third, whatever, the comments on making it predator proof.

If done right, it will stop certain animals from feasting on your garden (think mainly deer, but others also) while reducing the number of pests, such as grasshoppers, a little. I though the comment about hawks being deterred by the enclosure created by the double fencing interesting, but I personally would not bet the farm on that working 100%.