Thread: Getting back to living off the land.....

PHOTO HEAVY! I've finally got the big chicken garden pen finally in action. The main run is along the front of the four 5x3m runs. Each run is gated. I've only got 2 of the runs finished so far. The idea is to have the chooks clear a pen, move them to the next pen, and plant the cleared pen with veges. I'm an old bugger now so want the chooks to do the hard yakka for me by clearing and fertlising the gardens.

Each garden will take 6-8 weeks to clear. Multiply that by 4 pens and there should be a 6 month rotation before they're back to clear the 1st pen.
The 1st pen is beginning to be planted up with veges while the White Orpingtons clear the 2nd pen. I've used old electric fence tape as a cheap option to keep the chooks from flying over the dividing walls. The tape is just a visual deterrent, it's not hot

A magnificent edifice. That is a stationary version of the old chook tractor is it not?
Grandpamac.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

A magnificent edifice. That is a stationary version of the old chook tractor is it not? Grandpamac.

Pretty much. But the chooks live a more natural life than squeezed into a chook tractor. It hasn't cost a fortune to do though. The iron are all the 1.8m end of roll pieces at about $15 each. I bought the posts on special for $17 each. But I'm sick of half arsed and it'll pay for itself very fast in dollar terms and hopefully the labour savings.