free range chicken garden

Badchickenpun · Tuesday at 11:31 AM

I have extra space outside of my chicken coop/run. thinking of dedicating a patch about 18'x18' to growing plants just for chickens.
Not to harvest, but for them to literally scratch around in and eat as they wish. They will not have 24/7 access, but rather access at my discretion.
I will start it next spring. In the thinking stages, now.
What would you grow in this space?

Perris · Tuesday at 11:44 AM

if you grow a diverse assortment of local native plants, your chickens will be able to forage for more nutrients, over a longer period of the year, and with little to no input from you once it's established, than with any other arrangement. You will just need to keep the plant thugs that would otherwise take over from doing so.

Badchickenpun · Tuesday at 11:50 AM

Perris said:
You will just need to keep the plant thugs that would otherwise take over from doing so.

Yup. Around here crab grass is the number one offender... red and white clover grow nicely around, not too nasty, as well as dandelions in the spring. Plantain (broad and narrow leaf) is common in the yard. Various wild grasses, too. Fleabane, queen anne's lace, hawkweed... and of course thistle.
We have ground cherries and flowers of the hour that likes to pop up randomly, too.
I was thinking of tilling up a section in the spring and just blanketing it with seeds and letting it go...

samdrussell · Tuesday at 11:55 AM

I really like your idea. I would love to do something similar where I am. I look forward to reading further replies. I live in Central Texas. What area do you live in?

Perris · Tuesday at 11:56 AM

sounds great. And the stuff the chickens don't eat may attract in insects that they do eat, so that's a win too. I've found areas let go are good for a few years, but can quickly start turning into a too dense area which reduces the diversity. A few shrubs and trees are great cover though, and again may be favourite places to hang out even if the chickens don't eat it, e.g. mock orange, parrotia persica, and some conifers here.

Badchickenpun · Tuesday at 12:04 PM

samdrussell said:
I really like your idea. I would love to do something similar where I am. I look forward to reading further replies. I live in Central Texas. What area do you live in?

central Indiana.

Badchickenpun · Tuesday at 12:04 PM

Perris said:
sounds great. And the stuff the chickens don't eat may attract in insects that they do eat, so that's a win too. I've found areas let go are good for a few years, but can quickly start turning into a too dense area which reduces the diversity. A few shrubs and trees are great cover though, and again may be favourite places to hang out even if the chickens don't eat it, e.g. mock orange, parrotia persica, and some conifers here.

I have about 12 feet bewteen the neighbor's field and the coop. I am thinking of planting something for good shade, out side of the run. Haven't finalized anything yet.

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