Chicken Yard THINGS...

 So... After the numerous attacks on our free range chickens, ducks, guineas, we fenced in a 3/4 acre "chicken yard." Our babies are used to having the run of 50 acres or better, but we recently experienced much loss with fox, opossum, and raccoon attacks. The top picture is a "scratch bed" I made for our babies. It contains compost, leaves, sticks, bark, pine needles, and worms. They love scratching and pecking in the woods, so I hope this provides them SOME comfort/fun:). We planted a weeping willow tree nearby that will give them some shade in this area as well. 

All of the plants in the chicken yard are "chicken preferred." We planted things they like as well as natural de-wormers. We added an apple tree for additional shade AND yummy treats. 

They have marigolds, roses, catnip, spearmint, peppermint, oregano, pineapple sage, chives, garlic, cone flowers, lemon balm, thyme, rosemary, lemon grass, lavender, wormwood, dandilions, sunn hemp, and "grass." 

YES... They have a chicken swing:). 

Re-Purposing

So... Today, I plan to re-purpose a portable greenhouse I purchased (similar to this one) into a "chicken" room. I will keep the door/flap rolled up permanently and will place chicken friendly plants inside. This will give the chickens something else to do to keep them busy and will make me happy because I will feel like I am doing something good:). Will likely place marigolds, catnip, mint, etc... inside the greenhouse. I will post pictures once I have it all set up and ready to go!!! Exciting! I love developing new enrichment activities/areas for the kiddos! 

Chicken Garden

I finally got some of my chicken garden planted. I included/am including echinacea, rose plants, marigold, wormwood, calendula, spearmint, catnip, chamomile, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon grass, and lemon balm. These plants are all chicken-safe and are an excellent natural anti-parasitic.