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#1
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Preparing to keep chickens
I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five
years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can begin keeping chickens again. My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out by hand. I would welcome any suggestions as to what might be the most effective and quickest way of getting rid of the nettles and some idea of how long it might take simply by mowing regularly. Many thanks Janet G |
#2
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Preparing to keep chickens
My experience is that chicken runs are always surrounded with nettles. Cut
down the old growth and I am sure the chickens will help prune back the new growth by pecking at it. "Janet Galpin" wrote in message ... I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can begin keeping chickens again. My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out by hand. I would welcome any suggestions as to what might be the most effective and quickest way of getting rid of the nettles and some idea of how long it might take simply by mowing regularly. Many thanks Janet G |
#3
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Janet Galpin" wrote in message ... I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can begin keeping chickens again. My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out by hand. I would welcome any suggestions as to what might be the most effective and quickest way of getting rid of the nettles and some idea of how long it might take simply by mowing regularly. Many thanks Janet G Our hens used to avoid eating the nettles, I would spot spray with glysophate the actual nettles or you could try digging them out. just mowing will take a while (say most of next season) but that will eventually also get rid of them as once the fox had eaten our chickens I had to start mowing up in the orchard again and the nettles have all gone without using weed killer. -- Charlie, gardening in Cornwall. http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and Lapageria rosea |
#4
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Preparing to keep chickens
Janet Galpin writes
I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can begin keeping chickens again. My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out by hand. Digging's not as bad as it sounds. The roots are not all that deep. And they're quite tough, which means you can grab one and pull and get a long length out. Quite fun when you are pulling hard and see a whole nettle plants disappear underground a few feet away from you ;-) -- Kay |
#5
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Janet Galpin" wrote in message ... I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can begin keeping chickens again. My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out by hand. I would welcome any suggestions as to what might be the most effective and quickest way of getting rid of the nettles and some idea of how long it might take simply by mowing regularly. Many thanks Mowing regularly will kill them off with no need to dig out the roots. Good luck with the chickens, I always fond them and other birds a well worth while addition to the garden and table. -- Chris West Cork Ireland |
#6
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. Knowing how chooks can turn any area into a desert, I wouldn't bother to clean it up. The chooks will do it well enough. |
#7
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Farm1" please@askifyouwannaknow wrote in message
... "Janet Galpin" wrote in message I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. Knowing how chooks can turn any area into a desert, I wouldn't bother to clean it up. The chooks will do it well enough. The only fear there is them becoming crop bound Mike -- .................................................. ......... Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association www.rnshipmates.co.uk www.nsrafa.com |
#8
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. Knowing how chooks can turn any area into a desert, I wouldn't bother to clean it up. The chooks will do it well enough. My experience of keeping chickens for a few years is that; a. They are the most stupid creatures you will ever own. b. They will destroy all green life in the immediate vicinity of the coop EXCEPT nettles. c. There is always one that can escape no matter how high the run fence is. d. The best layer will die for no apparent reason. e. There will be no eggs on the day you need them most. f. The cockerel will be the first into the oven. Mike |
#9
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Preparing to keep chickens
In message , Muddymike
writes "Janet Galpin" wrote in message I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. Knowing how chooks can turn any area into a desert, I wouldn't bother to clean it up. The chooks will do it well enough. My experience of keeping chickens for a few years is that; a. They are the most stupid creatures you will ever own. b. They will destroy all green life in the immediate vicinity of the coop EXCEPT nettles. c. There is always one that can escape no matter how high the run fence is. d. The best layer will die for no apparent reason. e. There will be no eggs on the day you need them most. f. The cockerel will be the first into the oven. Yes to the first five. Never had a cockerel. I think Janet may have kept chickens before, from what she said. We had eggs almost every day but as you say, the site becomes a mess, despite the poo being useful for compost after a few months. -- June Hughes |
#10
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Mike" wrote in
: The only fear there is them becoming crop bound If that happens, we have found a useful technique is to soak some bread in cooking oil, feed it to the chicken, wait a couple of hours, then massage the crop. After 2-3 days the mass in the crop will be substantially smaller. |
#11
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Tom Gardner" wrote in message 43.38... "Mike" wrote in : The only fear there is them becoming crop bound If that happens, we have found a useful technique is to soak some bread in cooking oil, feed it to the chicken, wait a couple of hours, then massage the crop. After 2-3 days the mass in the crop will be substantially smaller. Similar technique as used for human constipation:-) |
#12
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Preparing to keep chickens
In message 8, Tom
Gardner writes "Mike" wrote in : The only fear there is them becoming crop bound If that happens, we have found a useful technique is to soak some bread in cooking oil, feed it to the chicken, wait a couple of hours, then massage the crop. After 2-3 days the mass in the crop will be substantially smaller. Or in an emergency - ie looks on its last legs - hold it upside down by its feet. It will flap a lot and should release whatever is in its crop. -- June Hughes |
#13
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Preparing to keep chickens
June Hughes wrote in
: In message 8, Tom Gardner writes "Mike" wrote in : The only fear there is them becoming crop bound If that happens, we have found a useful technique is to soak some bread in cooking oil, feed it to the chicken, wait a couple of hours, then massage the crop. After 2-3 days the mass in the crop will be substantially smaller. Or in an emergency - ie looks on its last legs - hold it upside down by its feet. It will flap a lot and should release whatever is in its crop. We've seen - I mean felt - golfball-sized smooth "plastercine" lumps in the crop. I know their throats are bigger than you think, but even so ... ! This occurred after eating too many sprout leaves and too much grass. |
#14
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Preparing to keep chickens
The message
from June Hughes contains these words: In message , Muddymike writes "Janet Galpin" wrote in message I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. Knowing how chooks can turn any area into a desert, I wouldn't bother to clean it up. The chooks will do it well enough. My experience of keeping chickens for a few years is that; a. They are the most stupid creatures you will ever own. b. They will destroy all green life in the immediate vicinity of the coop EXCEPT nettles. c. There is always one that can escape no matter how high the run fence is. d. The best layer will die for no apparent reason. e. There will be no eggs on the day you need them most. f. The cockerel will be the first into the oven. Yes to the first five. Never had a cockerel. I think Janet may have kept chickens before, from what she said. We had eggs almost every day but as you say, the site becomes a mess, despite the poo being useful for compost after a few months. -- I have had chickens before but was not their chief carer, whereas this time I will be. When we had them before there were some nettles in the run and, as some have said, they ate everything except the nettles. Now it is all nettles, so I'm worried about assuming they would keep on top of them especially as I want a small number of chickens (four or six?) in quite a large area (60' by 40'?) . Many thanks for such wide-ranging advice. Encouraged by Kay I shall attempt as much hand-tugging as I can and then appraise the situation. Does anyone know whether chickens will get used to two different houses and alternate between them? I'm wondering about having a moveable house and run as well as the fixed one so that I can have them in different parts of the garden to make use of the available grass and keep down some pests, (e.g. in veg beds when they've been cleared of crops) but then also have them at other times in the permanent house and run. Thanks again Janet G |
#15
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Preparing to keep chickens
"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
Does anyone know whether chickens will get used to two different houses and alternate between them? I'm wondering about having a moveable house and run as well as the fixed one so that I can have them in different parts of the garden to make use of the available grass and keep down some pests, (e.g. in veg beds when they've been cleared of crops) but then also have them at other times in the permanent house and run. Just move them from one house to the other in darkness ie after they've perched for the night and place them on their new perches in the new house. You may need to do a patrol for a little while after each move to make sure they're settling onto their perches but I'd be surprised, they are brighter than they look (thank goodness). |
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