Solitary chicken - need advice

[veggiemad]

Hello everyone.

 

Well i've got the bug and having upgraded to a cube i am now planning a WIR. The best place for it in our garden is on a previous veg patch. I grew potatoes on it this year -unsuccessfully- hence i can give the space to the chickens. I do know however that potatoes are poison to chooks and wondered if this was safe. It really is the only place, i will thouroughly dig the ground and remove any visible traces of pots but wondered what you lot thought.

 

I also thought about paving it over, but feel that the girls would prefer the soil, plus this would incur further cost- slabs and bedding etc

 

any advice gratefully received,

[Olly]

You're describing exactly the spot where I've put my WIR! I have removed most of the topsoil so I know there are no obvious ones left, but equally I know that chickens have a habit of disinterring things that you had no idea were there - mine are constantly uncovering small plastic toys and the like, left by a previous owner of my house.

 

I wouldn't worry - if you see any then remove them, but I don't think pecking at the odd potato would poison them.

[Christian]

I think it is only if they feast on them, then it might be a problem. Good luck with your new walk in run.

[atsw]

Please think about the floor of your new runs. Sitting them on un-compacted earth could make for easy tunnelling by rats or worse still, Mr Fox.

 

I made this mistake back at the start of my chicken keeping 'career', when I positioned my Omlet run on the veg patch for the winter. I lost two chooks to a fox who dug in under my Omlet run. ** Pictures here **

 

In summary, if you have light or loose soil think about a solid base or at least putting a mesh base in under the run.

 

Andrew

[Olly]

A timely reminder, Andrew. I've laid slabs round the edge of the veg patch for my run to stand on, for just that reason.

[veggiemad]

Wow - what a picture- thanks for highlighting that one. I do have alot of old slabs leftover from when we lifted our patio so will put them all around the edge and a few inside - that'll also stop me getting too muddy when i change the food.

 

Thanks for all help and advice.

[alih]

My WIR is on an old veg patch too and there were certainly potatoes there - they are fine after 2 years so I would not worry too much unless there are potatoes still in evidence