Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

let me know about a week prior Scott, so I can set some for you.

so Monya, are they your chickies ?

My three Silver laced Wyandottes have all gone broody, for the second time this year. The first time we didn't have any fertile eggs from a SLW rooster, this time we managed to save seven. I've built a small enclosure inside the main coop and placed one of the hens on a nest there with some plastic eggs. If she is still sitting tonight I will replace the plastic eggs with the seven eggs and wait the 21 days.

here's hopeing.

Himzo.

I guess it might depend on the type of fruit trees as to if they will object to chicken scratching around the roots or not. I had always heard the citrus didn't like the surface roots disturbed but my two citrus trees have certainly produced well since the chickens have been living under them.

There is also the benefit of having birds living under the fruit trees to help control bug type pests that have part of their life cycle in the soil. Also dropped fruit can often supplement the birds diet.

And the shade they require during the summer months..

Not sure about citrus but know that stone fruit like apricots do very well in chicken coop/run as well as apples.

Himzo.

All the trees will like the chicken poop and the way the bugs will be eaten. Nearly all the tree's will object to having their surface roots torn up .........., best solution seems to be chicken wire horizontally , just under the mulch for about 1 metre around the tree trunk.

No wire on the ground under my trees. But my girls only have access to one side of the trees at a time. Trees are doing great. The chickens are good at getting rid of the weeds around there too.

I do have wire around my trees at the moment, simply because we have really hot dry summers and it helps keep the mulch in place. If I didn't then the much would eventually wind up in my neighbours yard down the hill.

If the tree was well established (mine are all still young trees) and formed part of the run, then I wouldn't have any wire around it. I'd probably be worried about the chooks hurting them self on it.

H.