Written and photographed by Christopher J. Devens, II and Tiffany J. Devens, Interns, Portage County Master Gardener Volunteers
Our family’s foray into gardening, like so many others, began in 2020 during the height of the global pandemic. It brought us all outside into the sunshine and provided us with a central hobby in which every family member contributed. Each year after, the garden expanded right along with our knowledge and botanical interest. Then one year we discovered chickens and their natural abilities to assist in the garden.
While chickens are nostalgically remembered for providing fresh eggs daily for the family farm, we discovered with much delight that they are world class compost producers. It does not take much space or very many hens to churn out enough compost to refresh the family vegetable plot. We live in town and have no more than nine hens at any given time. They predominately reside in a twenty-two by eight-foot covered run. Their flooring substrate is hardwood chips.
It is important to ensure no pallets are used in the chips as some may be contaminated with chemicals. The chickens then scratch, peck and spread their own fertilizer as they go about their daily life. Every six months the run is cleaned out into the compost pile to rest and the run is refreshed with fresh wood chips and the cycle continues. Once in the compost pile, the heap is turned for aeration by humans monthly or by the hens whenever free ranging.
The compost heap is a veritable poultry playground as it provides delicious bugs for snacks and soft material to scratch and peck through. Bedding from the coop is cleaned out into the compost pile and refreshed about the same time. In our coop we utilize a setup call the “poop shelf,” which is a shelf that sits under the roosting bars and is filled with paving sand that can be sifted. Chickens typically defecate more at night while they are roosting. Each morning the poop shelf is sifted with a kitty litter scoop and the waste is taken to the compost pile. This takes less than a minute to do and with these practices we have avoided flies and other pesky insect populations.
Chickens are also fantastic little rototillers. To clear a new garden plot or to freshen an old one, we stake out a portable poultry fence around the perimeter of the desired area. Their food, water and a small enclosure for which they may use to stop and lay an egg are included. Their efficiency in clearing and fertilizing the land is remarkable. Often only a day or two is needed depending on the space. It is important to consider the vegetation that is to be removed as some plants are poisonous to chickens so please do your research before employing them in this manner. Once they have cleared the area, the land is allowed to rest for three months as the nitrogen in their fertilizer is quite high and can burn out new seedlings. Allowing it to rest reduces this risk.
Chickens are excellent pest control assistants. Some research as shared they can eat up to sixty ticks in an hour. Utilizing their specialized sight, they can find and eat all manner of insects and small rodents. Their scratching and pecking also disrupts the life cycle of unwanted pests often in the larvae stage.
If you are considering adding chickens to your gardening journey, there are a few important factors to consider. First, it is necessary to investigate with your local municipality the allowance for chicken keeping. For instance, where we live, hens are allowed, but not roosters. Secondly, chickens are considered exotic pets by the veterinary world and therefore finding veterinary care for your flock can be challenging. For this reason, it is important to become familiar with common symptoms, diseases and treatments for your flock.
Chickens require fresh water daily and a proper diet. In essence, they are a commitment and you should be prepared to treat them as such. Additionally, anything they eat will end up in your compost, your soil and ultimately what you eat so consider their feed carefully. Lastly, chickens need protection. We free range our chickens in our yard a few hours a week under supervision to allow them to enjoy scavenging. The supervision ensures they remain on our property and they do not till undesired areas. We have neighborhood red-tailed hawks that we keep an eye out for as it is known as a predator of chickens. Our chicken coop and run are constructed to be predator proof.
Adding chickens to your garden journey has many advantages along with providing delicious fresh eggs and plenty of backyard entertainment with their daily antics. Chickens are the only co-workers who fertilize your yard, eat your bugs, till your soil… and then show up the next morning with breakfast.
Want to learn more:
Chicken’s and Gardening
Gardening with Chickens
Chickens and the Garden
Chickens in the Garden
Ohio State University Extension Portage County Master Gardener Volunteer program. As Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, our articles will never endorse specific products or companies. Questions/comments/suggestions/want to find out more/become a PCMGV: 330-296-6432 • OSU PCMGV web • portco.mgv.oh@gmail.com • FB PCMGV • PCMGV Speaker’s Bureau