chickens and gardens

[quackaddict]

I was thinking about Plymouth Rocks, some type of bantams, and maybe some New Hampshire Reds.

The wife really wants some Ameracuanas(sp?) becuase of the different color eggs. I figured I would get a pair of hens of each breed

 

[jimmyj]

If you want to have some fun your chicken selections are good ones. Some bantams cuz they are so neat. The "rocks" lay great brown eggs and they are quiet and reliable. The Ameraucanas (sp?) are cool for fancy shells. Get a white egg layer too and cross breed them all. We do that and between white, brown and odd colored eggs I never have a shortage of customers to buy eggs. Of course, the fact that I take eggs to work and sell them is a felony!!

 

[schmism]

we have had chickens for a 3 years now and they free range.

we keep a fairly good size garden also although its not in the normal range of the chickens.

we have the most problem with them scratching up freshly planted seeds and when the toms ripen. we have to fence off our strawberies and a section of toms so we have some else they eat them.

as for the lettice, greenbeens, beats, squash etc no problems. they do do a good job keeping bugs down in the garden and we compost the bedding from the coups and put it in the garden usually were we are going to plant corn and toms.

 

[dooleysm]

I've had chickens for about 2 years now. I keep them mostly penned up for the entire garden season. When I do let them out during garden season it is right before dark so I can keep them away from the tomatoes and other vulnerable plants.

Otherwise, I let them out pretty much all day on the weekends. My wife is home with the kids during the week, and they let the chickens out occassionally if they're outside and the weather is nice.

I am able to sell all our excess eggs for $1.50/dozen. I think they are worth more than that, but my mom sells them to her friends at work, so it's easy for me to do it that way and get a bit less. I'm not in it for the money though, I enjoy having them around. I would not ever be without a rooster. I love hearing him crow and watching his antics. He's barely audible in the house with the windows up. Even with the windows down in the spring and fall, he's still not as loud as my beagles when they start barking at something.