cherryblossom Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Hi everyone. There was an article in an organic gardening magazine here in Oz with what they called a chicken clock. I REALLY want one. Forgive me probably terrible description. It had a maybe 7ft high hexagon shaped house in the centre, with windows at the top which could be opened for ventilation, and on one side an area opening onto the nest for egg collection. One side opened up totally for cleaning. Each side had it's own door on, and on each corner of the hexagon is a wire wall, also same hight. This creates 6 seperate runs, each with a door onto the outside. They said they put concrete into the ground all around to stop foxes, and then they had orchard netting over the top. So, how it works, you grow your veggies in some of the sections. When your crop has finished you let your chickens into that bit, where they eat pests and weeds, dig the soil and fertilise it for you. When you open up another section you plant veggies where they have left. Now you would need a fair amount of space, I think the one they showed was 14m across, and I'm sure it wouldn't be cheap to make, but it is such a good idea. I was just wondering if anyone else had this type of set up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds intriguing . Never heard of it but I think you should get one and show us all how it works . (I thought you meant one for a kitchen wall .) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds intriguing! (snap ANH!) If you do go for it, I would love to see pics. Providing the girls have enough room in each section, I can't see a problem, and you get free manure and cultivation of your land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherryblossom Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 I won't be able to buy a house for at least a year, so I have to wait. That is a lot of planning to get my chicken clock perfect. I had been thinking espallier trees around the edges would be good for providing shade. Also, fruit netting could then be laid over the trees hanging off the clock fence/wire. If the wire between sections was strong enough you could grow your tomatoes, peas etc up it. Of course you would have to be careful where the chickens were in relation lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Any chance of a link to a site so we can see one, I've just googled chicken clock house & got lots of recipes amongst other things!! Sounds like an excellent idea though, wonder what DH's reaction would be if I suggested on of those...... Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Headchicken Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds interesting, but big. My great-grandmother had a large chicken pen; she kept the chickens on one side and her veggie garden on the other. Every season she would swap sides, so the ground was fertilized and tilled by the chickens during the off-vegetable time. Sounds like a simpler version of the clock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I need a bigger garden.... Perhaps this week I will win the lottery... And then I can have the garden of my dreams, complete with Chicken Clocks, and rotating veggie plots Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I need a bigger garden.... Perhaps this week I will win the lottery... And then I can have the garden of my dreams, complete with Chicken Clocks, and rotating veggie plots WSS Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The 3 D's Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 Sounds unusual, but a good idea. Wouldnt mind one myself but havent really got the space. Just seen where your from. My cousins live in Adelaide too Matt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted February 17, 2009 Share Posted February 17, 2009 I've got some family in Adelaide too . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cherryblossom Posted February 17, 2009 Author Share Posted February 17, 2009 I couldn't find any pics on the internet either, not sure if some people may call it something else, or maybe the person in the magazine is the first to have done one? Adelaide is a lovely place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
