4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Pevensey Sue]

Hi,

 

I have fenced off about a quarter of my garden for my girls to free range. Happy to have it as a slightly jungly / rockery / natural style..... what has anyone found as good for growing alongside chucks (ie, that they wont eat or demolish generally!!)???? Would like some plant life there........

 

 

Any top tips (apart from regular poo removal) for keeping flys under control?

 

Many Thanks

[Snowy]

Hi,

 

I have fenced off about a quarter of my garden for my girls to free range. Happy to have it as a slightly jungly / rockery / natural style..... what has anyone found as good for growing alongside chucks (ie, that they wont eat or demolish generally!!)???? Would like some plant life there........

tough shrubs, leaves out of reach, big rocks around the roots. I found holly quite effective What they don't eat they scratch up

 

 

Any top tips (apart from regular poo removal) for keeping flys under control?

Citronella - I sprinkle it into the poo trays. Am looking at buying some citronella and some tea tree essential oils to make a spray to spritz around their run.

 

Many Thanks

[Stevie]

Plants like;

 

Choisya ternata (Mexican orange blossom) is bullet proof and the 'sundance' variety is my particular favourite because of its almost lime green foliage plus it flowers twice a year in spring/late summer.My chooks arent intrested in nibbling its thick leaves! Gets to around 6ft tall with equal spread and has a wonderful sweet smell hence its nickname 'Mexican orange blossom'.

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/plantfinder/choisya-ternata_1.asp

 

Phyllostachys nigra (black bamboo) is a well behaved bamboo which wont turn your garden into a jungle plus my chickens never try to eat the small leaves.Gets to around 12-15ft tall and looks stunning when the canes turn glossy black over 18 months! Pricey at around £30-£40,but if you get a large plant-put a spade through the compost its rooted in and divide before planting.Likes a sunny aspect with soil which stays damp (not soaking wet though).

http://www.blackbamboo.co.uk/

 

There are plenty more-i hope this helps.

[Egluntyne]

Have a look at the Flitrap threads for tips on keeping flies at bay.

 

**here**

 

A few drops of citronella work well too.

[ali-s]

The Hemcore I use in the run has citronella added. It smells lovely and keeps the flies away

[Helen&Lee]

I might be able to help with the plant question

 

When my chooks free range they have access to all plants in my garden and I am slightey mad about plants

 

They don't touch my bamboo, phormiums or grasses that are on my slate bed - but do like the Heuchuras and Lady's Mantle in the same area.

 

In the flower bed in front of their run they haven't touched the Penstemons, Jacobs Ladder, Ornamental Poppies, Verbascums, Hollyhocks, Scabious, Dark leaf Lobelia, Salvias, Hosta's, Lupins,... But have liked Geums (sp?) and the sedums.

 

On the Herb bed they leave the rosemary, thyme's, marjoram and Rock hyssop, mint and sage alone but love the garlic chives

 

I would imagine they love all the annual bedding plants but I don't have them in my garden anyway

 

Hope this helps, it probably stands to reason that some people on here have lost some of these plants to chooks

 

Also, some of these may be in the poisonous to chooks catagory, But I don't believe in the wrapping in cotton wool thing - they seem to know to avoid them

 

Helen

[KateP]

My two tend to leave most shrubs and grasses alone so that's what I've planted in their corner of the garden. They have demolished the chives recently - when I get within about 2 metres of them all I can smell is onions!

 

Citronella is very good. I am just waiting for a couple more bottles to be delivered from Holland and Barrett (they currently have a sale on), as I dropped my last bottle on the patio. At least we now have a nice fly-free patio area!

[Hen Watch]

More established shrubs tend to be OK rather than young, small plants.

 

Flies - I put a few drops of citronella in the poo tray. Put a few drops on some kitchen roll and tuck it somewhere dry, out of reach in their run.

I buy mine online. £3.99 for 50ml at moment.

http://www.neph-aromatics.co.uk/essential_c.htm#citronella