[evie2]

Advice needed please. 

We're moving our chooks to next years veg plot so they can give it a good clean up before winter however the coop will be on the edge of the orchard where the apple trees are and they have very low branches so I was going to pick the apples then prune out the low branches but I don't know if I'll damage the tree itself. Both trees are heavy with fruit which wont be ripe for a few more weeks.

[Fred Quimby]

Try RHS site

http://apps.rhs.org.uk/advicesearch/profile.aspx?PID=90

Good luck

[gillie]

You will not damage the trees, probably do them some good,  but you will reduce your crop this year if you pick too soon.

A lot of unripe apples would not be good for the chickens.  

I would leave moving the chickens until you can deal with the apples in their season.  I guess the chickens will still have plenty of time for their cleaning operations and will deal with any codling moth larvae they come across as well.

Gillie

[evie2]

Thanks Fred, had a quick look at the site, good article will read it in more depth later

Hi Gillie,I'll bare that in mind; luckily where the coop will go is at the very edge and the run wont have apples falling in it although I don't think they like apples, to much like hard work, OH pampers them so they prefer cooked treats

[8doubles]

I myself would not worry about hens eating too many apples they have always been kept in orchards over the centuries with no ill effect.
On the other hand large apples from up high hitting a hen will not do them any good.
I picked all my high apples near the coop this morning.

[evie2]

It never occurred to me about apples falling on them, oops silly me