[hermon]

wow, i havn't been on this for about 5 years and now i'm back!
i have recently got the use of some raised beds from freecycle from a very genourous farmer near us.he has cocks and chooks roaming free and apart from potatoes idon't know what will be safe to grow! i am thinking mostly root veg, leeks, garlic and onions any help would be grate................very happy to be backxxx

[arugula]

Do you mean safe for the chickens or safe from the chickens?

As you say, root crops are perhaps less likely to be damaged by the birds sampling than leafy veg or salads, which they will do, but I think things like potato and rhubarb foliage are poisonous to chickens if consumed in large enough quantity. The birds are pretty sensible normally though. They love strawberries!

We ended up fencing our growing area from the birds, as they do like a good scratch around and that is not conducive to good growth in small plants.

[pdblake]

In my experience with my own chooks, nothing is safe. Veg patches and chickens don't mix, what they don't eat they'll shred.

You'll need to net everything, or fence it off.

[hermon]

thank you both, i'll just give root crops a go and see

[bigben]

In my experience with my own chooks, nothing is safe. Veg patches and chickens don't mix, what they don't eat they'll shred.

You'll need to net everything, or fence it off.

I agree - they eat all sorts and scratch around for slugs, bugs etc effectively digging stuff up so I would fence or net.

[pdblake]

The thing is, they'll leave your root crops alone once they're grown. That is they won't eat a fully grown swede, but first they have to grow. Chooks scratch around a lot and they don't care if they rip up your plants, even if they have no intention of eating tham.

[audrey padmore]

get frendly with the chicken owner and ask him for the manure ( one of the best fertilisers ) for your plot he'll prob be glad to get shut of it and you will have loverly veg frm it  good luck