The chooks are watching closely

20 years ago

I finally got round to doing what I have threatened to do for years. We built a new chook run along side the old one, and taking in no mans land along the back of the shed. The chooks get the shade of the old ovens wattle for summer cool, with a little scrap colourbond covered crate with perches, for shelter.

I get their old run for a summer veg garden. I rotary hoed it a few weeks back and again last night, with gypsum added. I them raked it into mounded rows and planted and watered in my tomatoes. I am heading off in a few moments to plant climbing beans that can grow the height of the chook run fence. Sweet corn that can mask the ugly shed wall, and zuchinnis in the corners. Cucumbers will be poked in here and there, and some pumpkins can grow over the low roofed chook shed. Maybe some greens along the front of the row of climbing beans? Lots of pea straw mulch.

Water is at hand from the new tank, and when it is all over bar the eating, then the chooks can move into the jungle and demolish it during the winter months. It will be chook heaven!

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Comments (8)

lomatia
20 years ago
They're certainly good at cleaning up an area and getting all the snails etc. Mine would follow me around the garden in case I lifted up a pot then they'd swoop. Had the dickens of a time keeping them out of the veggies though!
goldhills
20 years ago
Sounds good.

I am never sure about letting the chooks in the vegie garden after it's finished. I know they're good at cleaning up pests but don't they eat a lot of the earthworms? Every time I let my chooks in they seem to spend more time scratching big holes looking for worms instead of other pests.
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Raymondo
20 years ago
Sounds like the ex-run is going to be a great garden. All that chook poo! It'll be a jungle!
ozmantis
20 years ago
Ditto Rays comments. You should get some triffod like growth. Please post some pics.
tinahere
20 years ago
That sounds perfect...chooks get a new home and you get the ideal garden....you have been busy by the sounds of it and I wish you and the chooks many healthy veges....Tina
adamus
20 years ago
CHOOKA CHOOOKA CHOOOKA
GO GO GO
wishful
20 years ago
sounds great sparaxis! where are the photos? and the ground plans? I need inspiration for extending my chook run please!
Sparaxis
Original Author
20 years ago
I will send photos when the vegies grow :-) The new run takes advantage of the 6 ft fence that was already there on 2 sides of the old run. Also the back of the shed, and the boundary fence. The boundary fence is only 4ft high, so we covered over that space with wire, sloping up to the taller fence and the back of the shed. I can JUST walk under it. So that is a strip of space about 1.2 m wide, by around 8m long. The chooks stripped it of grass very quickly. It was a no mans land of rubbish and overgrown grass that I couldn't mow, so it is great to have a maintenance gang keep it clean now. The rest of the run is about 2 m wide, along side the old run, with a new 6ft fence on 2 sides. It is partly covered over, and under the canopy of the wattle tree. The crows have been getting too up close and personal, with the cover of the wattle tree abetting them, so I am going to completely cover the run and see if that stops eggs from disappearing.
I have a little door between the two runs, rather than having a new external door. That allowed me to use a flimsy bit of old trellis, as it is not at risk of being pushed in by foxes or dogs, and I only have the 1 external door, which is strong and solid. we used pine poles, and galv wire, and used up old timber along the base on the outside, to prevent predators digging in. I have several Alister clark climbing roses in pots, and must soon find the time to plant them along the fenceline - on the outside :-)
Cheers, Jan

The chooks are watching closely

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lomatia

goldhills

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The chooks are watching closely

Comments (8)

lomatia

goldhills

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Raymondo

ozmantis

tinahere

adamus

wishful

SparaxisOriginal Author

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