Chickens spreading straw in the garden Quite often there is this rustically romantic idea about a small flock of chickens walking through your garden, scratching at troublesome weeds, pecking at pests and leaving small amounts of all-natural fertilizer behind as they pass through. Unfortunately, for those of us who are familiar with chickens, there is seldom any warm and fuzzy feelings related to a chicken running free in your garden. Personally, I would describe it more along the lines of pure panic! As chickens are omnivores, meaning they can consume both plant and animal matter, their presence in your garden can be both positive and detrimental. Have you got any grape tomatoes that are just about ripe? You won’t if your chicken finds them. And that nice layer of compost that neatly surrounds your prized produce...well, I’d put

Chickens eating pumpkins Chickens are amazing little cleaners. It never ceases to amaze me the things that they will eat. Between bugs, weeds and produce, I can say with confidence that, if utilized properly, their contribution to ecology is absolutely extraordinary. As chickens are omnivores, capable of obtaining nutrition from both plant and animal matter, they can eat parts of a pumpkin. It’s enjoyable for me to watch my flock work a large pumpkin over. With them being free-range birds they might not go after it as intensely as a caged bird might, but that’s not to say they’ll stick their beaks up at it either. Generally, they’ll go after the juicy stringy parts first, inadvertently getting it all over the top of their beaks. At which point they’ll do that

A Chicken In The Garden As living beings capable of performing in almost any environment, chickens can offer quite a bit to their local ecosystem – whether that’s a sprawling farm in the country or small backyard in ‘Rural-town’. They are amazing creatures that, if cared for properly, can be a notable asset to your home. One of the best things about chickens is their contribution of waste to the soil. Wikipedia states, “Of all animal manures, it has the highest amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.” And as nitrogen is considered key to plant growth, the chicken, with its nitrogen intense manure, can provide a significant positive impact to the soil. And it’s not just the fertilizer that is beneficial. Chickens love to scratch at the ground. And believe it or not, this simple behavior contributes