Free-range in the garden all the time: In this option, a chicken coop and secure outside pen are located in a perfect spot in the garden. This setting provides them supplemental food, shelter, and protection from predators. Jessi Bloom, a landscape designer in the Seattle area and the author of the book Free-Range Chicken Gardens, says a happy coexistence is all about preparing your garden. Gardeners create a perfect layering of landscape and plant materials or ecosystem. Your chicken garden should change with each season. A free range backyard chicken keeper must hunt for both predators and hens’ eggs, for hens don’t necessarily lay them in nesting boxes when they have access to natural hiding places. Shelter for Free Range Poultry. Land which is to support free-ranging chickens adequately must be sheltered. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Manure from free range chickens can break down naturally in the yard, providing valuable nutrients for the lawn. Chickens are gaining popularity quickly. Generally, chickens don’t harm mature shrubs. Shrubs are a foundation in a chicken garden, because chickens like to spend time under these since they provide shade and protection, and they can provide food in the form of fruit, seeds, and berries. Some trees can be grown as shrubs, like the pomegranate and pineapple guava. The correct balance for free range chickens is about 250 square feet of space per chicken. Deciding to Free Range Your Flock Often one of the first things a new chicken owner wants to do is let the flock out to free-range. Before you plant the garden, you could confine your chickens in a tractor or with electric net over the area, then move them out when you start your garden. The Differences between Free Range, Penned Free-Ranged and Confined . Even if you live in a mild climate you still experience subtle season changes and have seasonal chores. This does not refer to the obvious need for a house, but to factors such as the availability of trees, walls, windbreaks, shelters and hedges. Quite a few chicken breeds do well in confined spaces and smaller gardens. More examples of shrubs are blueberry bushes and gooseberry bushes. The USDA sets the standards for a chicken to be sold as free range. We have planted a small area of grass filled with clover and dandelions. Chickens in the garden, yours or the neighbor’s can be a problem. “If your garden fantasies involve chickens, Jessi Bloom is here to make those dreams come true.” — The New York Times Many gardeners fear chickens will peck away at their landscape. Chicken manure is an excellent source of organic fertilizer for both the lawn and garden. I’m thinking of fencing a little area in the summer chicken yard and planting a variety of things like: sunflower seeds, safflower seeds, corn, tomatoes, and zucchini, just so my chickies can enjoy their own garden all summer. In fact, we grow an entirely chicken friendly garden right near their coop for them to enjoy. Giving your chickens free range is healthy for the chickens … You’ll want to know how your garden will change with each season, how the seasons may affect your chicken flock, and how chickens imprint your garden each season. Every summer, it’s the same problem. We all know the benefits of free ranging chickens- higher egg nutrition, better chicken health, and lower feed costs just to name a few. Deciding to Free Range Your Flock Often one of the first things a new chicken owner wants to do is let the flock out to free-range. Dive into the following articles to gain insight […]