maggie Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 We have a new allotment covered in long grass. I have two questions, 1/ does anyone take thier chicks to the allotment for a visit? how dose this work out? 2/ how do you keep the grass on the paths short, our neigbours have a very smelly strimmer, is there a more holistic way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 how do you keep the grass on the paths short, our neigbours have a very smelly strimmer, is there a more holistic way? Thats easy .. take the chooks and let them demolish the grass, a little less smelly than the neighbours strimmer ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 Yes, I was thinking that, Sarah. But Maggie, have you read Jane's postings (Motherhen). She gives her girls wonderful adventures up to the allotment, in between taking guides out on long hikes (I'm waiting for the day she mistakenly takes the guides to the allotment, and goes up hill & dale with her chickens). If you look for her postings, she also has a fab website which is informative and entertaining reading about life with chooks in the city. Well, I would post the details here if I knew how to, but until Motherhen or someone else brainy comes along, try looking up her profile, postings & links. Imagine ridding your allotment of slugs & bugs! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammi J Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 She gives her girls wonderful adventures up to the allotment, in between taking guides out on long hikes (I'm waiting for the day she mistakenly takes the guides to the allotment, and goes up hill & dale with her chickens). Oh sheila, that did make me smile, I have this picture of motherhen walking 'over the hills and far away' with two chooks walking behide her and they have little ruck sacks on their backs Sammi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 Jane's around this morning so I'll leave it to her to post the web site details. If she doesn't make it this far, I'll pop them in later . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted April 24, 2005 Share Posted April 24, 2005 Pictures and details of the allotment visits are on www.citychicken.co.uk The hens are such an attraction at the allotment that we have to take along cards with details of the website and omlet. We are going to take the whole run and set it up on the open day in July - I'll get some leaflets from omlet to hand out. Briefly, we transport them in a cat carrier - usually walk the half mile there - and this doubles up as a nesting box if they get the urge while we are there. We take sweetcorn at a treat to tempt them back in when it is time to go. OH has also come up with the very effective devise of using thick plastic mesh to pen them into the right part of the allotment. When it is time to get them back into the carrier, he just starts winding up the mesh, with one end fastened to the carrier, and they are gently pushed in The love their outings and are very good at weeding and pest control. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggie Posted April 25, 2005 Author Share Posted April 25, 2005 I can't wait to take the girls to the allotment I will try them in pairs, the boys will love to take them out. It isn't uncommon to see ferrets on leads around here, but has anyone got a hen collar We have serious rabbit problems on the allotment, so all beds need fencing, which is perfect for hens. Now I am way more inspired to build the veggie cages. Has anyone north of Nottingham planted thier potatoes yet? When should they be planted? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Just wanted to add a word of caution, oh sorry not meaning to be a spoil sport. Long grass and chickens can cause an impacted crop. Am I right? Just thinking about poor kim and Clary. The infected crop. I remember the chap delivering the girls and saying no long grass because it can get caught up in the crop. Just thought it might help. Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Spot on Jayne, Whenever we give the girls grass pulled from the edge of next door's lawn we cut it into pieces that they can manage - the same for dandelions we dig up because they struggle to pull leaves off to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 The other thing you can do with dandelions or any plants is hang them up - I use a meat hook (with blunt end!) for cabbages and plastic clips from Lakeland for smaller things. Or just tie them up - with baling twine to be authentically Barbara, but string will do. Baling twine also very good for fastening gates and holding up trousers. Actually if you visit a proper farm you'll see that baling twine can be used for virtually everthing. Once the delectable greenery is anchored the girls can peck it to their hearts content Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Good point. I found 'fat ball' holders, not being rude but the garden bird feeder, are great for cabbage. Mine don't like the soft savoy type much so they need beaks like hammers to pect the tougher ones. Have also started chopping it and tossing it across grass, keeps them busy. Off topic anyone know when the gallery will be back as have finally got a camera and want to look at everyone else now I've got to know you! Bx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Excellent idea for the dandelions Jane! Easier than cutting them up with scissors any day!! No idea about the gallery I'm afraid - no sign of it at the moment. The Omlet guys are rushed off their feet but I'm sure they'll get round to it eventually! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 30, 2005 Share Posted May 30, 2005 I came on here this morning to say that while away I caught up with reading the Practical Poultry magazines and I know we had discussed giving lawn cuttings to the chickens but as it has now been brought up in this topic, I will use it to say I was wrong. I had been giving ours lawn cuttings which aren't too long but apparently they probably are too long. If the girls peck the grass themselves then it is short enough for them to cope with but lawn cuttings can cause severe crop impaction. I won't be giving them to the girls anymore I will use them to cover the potato plants - it will keep any weeds down and can be dug in as a soil improver. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted May 30, 2005 Share Posted May 30, 2005 You can always put them on the compost heap in thin layers with chicken poo and straw inbetween - that should get the compost going nicely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murdo Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 I had been giving ours lawn cuttings which aren't too long but apparently they probably are too long. If the girls peck the grass themselves then it is short enough for them to cope with but lawn cuttings can cause severe crop impaction. Ooerrr. That's bad news. Thank you for posting it. The Assistant to the Managing Director has been bringing lawn clippings back from Granny to feed to ours. Given Rosie's recent crop problems that's going to have to stop then. I won't be giving them to the girls anymore I will use them to cover the potato plants - it will keep any weeds down and can be dug in as a soil improver. Question on that one. Can you use them as a mulch without affecting the plants ? I thought that the initial part of the decay process reduced the nitrogen levels in the soil (before then increasing them as the bacterial distribution changes). Can potatoes withstand that ? I'm doing a no dig approach to the potatoes this year and had been putting on straw till it ran out. If I can use lawn clippings it save me getting more but I don't want to hold them back. Any idea ? How've you found it in the past ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Hi Murdo If I'd read this earlier I could have taken a photo of todays potatoes but the children have eaten them now We've always done it and had excellent potatoes - whether they would have done better if we hadn't mulched with grass clippings I don't know. Carl has just said that Bob Flowerdew recommends it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 The books to consult on no-dig methods of growing everything are by John Yeoman. Lazy Kitchen Gardener and Lazy Vegetable Grower. Website www.GardeningGuild.com Warning - reading his books will make you laugh out loud, even in public places. Some of his ideas may change your life. You may have to drink a lot of wine - see wine bottle containers in the photoalbum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 Thanks for the link Jane since you mentioned the book in an earlier posting I have been searching for it without success........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
