Moving the crew, a chicken update - September 8, 2012

Australorp "Jackie"

Black Copper Maran "CC"

 Today was chicken moving day.  They have been hanging out in the side yard in the perennial garden for a few weeks.  We finally doubled the electric fence so they can stay in a spot for a longer period of time.  This area was thick with bindweed and morning glories and I thought they would have a hard time getting around in the area.  They did just fine and to my great happiness have cleaned up under a lot of the plants.  The blackberry bushes are opened up as that was their favorite hang out space during the day and I don't blame them.  Perfect cover and fun sandy soil to toss up on themselves.  The bindweed was definitely trimmed away from the plum trees and sunflower/rosemary/asparagus area was cleaned up as well.  A definite win. 

Front yard garden

So where to next?  The winner is the front garden area with the hazelnut trees (actually I should say hazelnut sticks because they are so small and young), herbs like lemongrass and basil, serviceberry bushes (they don't look very good right now at all) and lots of amaranth, lambs quarters and bindweed.  I can't wait for them to work their magic in that garden!  Go chickens go!

When we moved the fence and coop I noticed that I couldn't find the old buff orpington named Honker.  So I started looking in the perennial garden for her and look what I found buried in the rosemary...

Clutch of eggs in the rosemary bushes in the side perennial garden

Those little boogers have been holding out on me!  I've been waiting and waiting for the eggs from the paddock crew.  I've been getting one or two here and there.  I kept saying...just be patient.  All along they were secretly laying in a cozy spot in the rosemary bushes.  I don't blame them.  I would like that MUCH better than the coop myself if I were a chicken.  Oh well, gotta rethink the nesting arrangement.  That is the thing I love about this whole permaculture thing...you just wing it and whatever isn't working you just tweek it until it does.  Chris and I have talked about having portable nests that we can place in strategic locations.  Might be a good idea.  For now I think I would like to focus on making the nesting boxes in the coop better.