A small flock of chickens can become a great living compost pile. And with new understandings of the superiority of grass-fed organic animal products, including higher Omega-3 fatty acids coming from the eggs of such animals, freerange chickens are showing up again on organic small farms, backyard mini-farms, and even urban lots. Chicken tractors are lightweight bottomless portable pens that fit over garden beds. They can be moved through pathways that need clearing and areas where the growing is complete for the season. Wherever the chickens are moved, they eat pests, pest larvae and pest eggs, and weed seeds. They aerate and churn topsoil, rip old garden residue to shreds, and fertilize with their manure, all while dining on an optimal free meal. The chicken tractor can become a sort of moving compost pile, also. If the chickens’ diet it supplemented with two popular organic gardening substances: seaweed (such as kelp) and diatomaceous earth, their manure will also add vital trace elements to the soil and their health will improve even further.
The chicken tractor idea was made popular by the book, Chicken Tractor: The Gardener’s Guide to Happy Hens and Healthy Soil by Andy Lee, Good Earth Publications. This book gives details on care, feeding and the building of a variety of simple chicken tractors.
How many chickens for a backyard? Chickens have flocking instincts, and enjoy being with members of their own kind. Three can live happily in a smaller area. For fertile eggs it’s suggested one rooster to every eight to twelve hens. If you can only keep three or four, it’s best to just have laying hens. Do not keep one male with just one or two females together in a closed in area, he’ll ‘wear them out’ (I won’t go into any more detail). Also, while some roosters are quite docile, they can suddenly tap into their inherent fighting instincts, plus, they have sharp spurs for fighting on their legs. This is not a good idea around homes and neighborhoods with children (or even adults, for that matter). If a chick grows into a rooster that becomes a beloved pet, check with a vet about caponizing him and removing the spurs. Your vet may not be familiar with this procedure. In the olden days, and somewhat still, it was done to roosters to cause them to be less active, more docile, and become larger for future butchering. It was usually done with sharp tools right on the farm. If a vet is willing and skilled, it could be done humanely, although it was usually done to the males at a young age.
Tour of my chicken tractor
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Chicken Rush
$19.99 Chicken Rush |
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Egg vs. Chicken
$19.99 Egg vs. Chicken |
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Chicken Invaders 3
$19.99 Chicken Invaders 3 |
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Chicken Invaders 2
$19.99 Chicken Invaders 2 |
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Chicken Invaders 2: Christmas Edition
$19.99 Chicken Invaders 2: Christmas Edition |
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Chicken Invaders 3: Christmas Edition
$19.99 Chicken Invaders 3: Christmas Edition |
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Peg Perego John Deere Farm Power Tractor
$279.99 Peg Perego John Deere Farm Power Tractor |
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Peg Perego JD Ground Force Tractor With Trailer
$329.99 Peg Perego JD Ground Force Tractor With Trailer |
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The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet Recipe Book
$16.95 Now you can know what goes into every bite of your baby's food by preparing it yourself with The Best Homemade Baby Food on the Planet Recipe Book! Making easy, homemade food in the comfort of your own kitchen is one of the greatest things you can do for your little one. With over 200 recipes that use the most nutritious and wholesome ingredients, you can give yourself the peace of mind that your baby gets only the best. This cookbook is full of delicious, easy-to-prepare recipes to suit every age and stage, from six months all the way to twenty-three months. From quick purées like Mighty Tasty Blueberry and Pear Mash and No-Cook Prune Purée, to new and nourishing meals like Sweet Omelet Surprise and Finger-Lickin’ Good Lentils and Potato with Cheese, you’ll find it a breeze to prepare any and all of the recipes you and your little one crave. Each recipe features: Two methods for preparation-stovetop or microwave-wherever applicable, so you can whip up recipes in whatever time you have. Many microwave options make it possible for meals to be made in less than 10 minutes. An easy-to-spot snowflake icon on all recipes suitable for freezing, so you can make baby’s meals at your convenience, or in batches, to save time and money. A complete nutritional analysis, so you can be sure you’re giving your child the best possible start. |
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Chicken Drumsticks Cat Toy
$3.99 Funny Farms comical drumstick chicken will whet your cat's appetite for a rousing play time. Catnip scented for added enticement. |
