Another newbie

[Egluntine]

Hello

Am new to veg growing.

We have very heavy clay soil and so have not had much success with anything in the garden previously.

It took my fancy to try this Square Foot Gardening idea and so have ordered some raised bed kits from Linkabord (coming next week) and just about every veg imaginable. Many seeds sown already.

Will need lots of advice over the growing season...if you don't mind being bombarded with questions.

Have plenty of chicken manure as I have 8 hens.

First question....how long should I let the manure rot for before I use it.

Thanks

Egluntine

[Hazel at the Hill]

Hello Egluntine - you have tons of potential for both your raised beds (jealous!) and for your clay like soil - do not worry because you will have 10 tons of ideas from the grapes here.

Your access to manure (not to mention eggs (very jealous!)) gives you a head start on the manure front - but I'd better leave specific advice to a more expericenced grape.

Just wanted to say welcome to the vine and enjoy your stay!

[Lesley Jay]

Hi Egluntine! Welcome to this madhouse otherwise known as the Grapevine!!

[Earthbabe]

Hi Egluntine and welcome. Like Hazel I'm a tad jealous of your easy access to eggs and manure but unable to answer your question.

As LJ says this is a bit of a madhouse, but very friendly, helpful and great fun too.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the Vine Egluntine.

I am looking forward to hearing how you get on with your garden, and picking your brains regarding chicken keeping - think I have almost persuaded my OH to have some chooks!

[Muddy Sarah]

Hi and welcome!! You'll find this is a great place to ask all sorts of questions.

All the best!

Sarah

[Egluntine]

shirlthegirl43 thanks for your reply (and everyone else!).

Do get some chickens...they bring a garden to life....and the eggs!..Fantastic... Supermarket eggs don't even come close....and it's a good feeling to know you are not contributing to animal suffering.

[shirlthegirl43]

Here you are then - first chicken questions for you...

I am planning on an easily moveable ark so they can 'graze' different bits each day. We live in a terraced house and I don't think the neighbours would appreciate feathered visitors. We always had chickens when I was a child but they had a big run and were allowed in the garden if we were around to keep the foxes away. Do you think they would be happy in an ark? How many birds would keep a family of four in eggs?

Thanks

[yoanbob]

welcome egultine, enjoy.

[mandyballantyne]

Hi Egultine,

Welcome to the vine, have a great year growing, Mandy

[Egluntine]

Here you are then - first chicken questions for you...

I am planning on an easily moveable ark so they can 'graze' different bits each day. We live in a terraced house and I don't think the neighbours would appreciate feathered visitors. We always had chickens when I was a child but they had a big run and were allowed in the garden if we were around to keep the foxes away. Do you think they would be happy in an ark? How many birds would keep a family of four in eggs?

Thanks

They should be happy enough in an ark (or an Eglu). You can drag it around the garden every few days so they have access to fresh grass, and they will fertilise as they go!

You could easily construct a larger run for them to play out in the garden (while you are there if Monsieur Reynard is a problem in your area. Personally I never let mine out if I am not around...within earshot anyway. It is easy enough to tempt them back into the Eglu with sweetcorn or raisins if I have to go out.

I think 3 or 4 hens would keep a family of four in eggs. they don't all lay every single day....I believe the egg cycle is 25 hours...and it depends what your egg consumption is.

Once you have tasted a fresh egg laid by one of your own hens, you will never buy another one. Even those which claim to be free range/organic...whatever.....don't come close!

Go for it.

[shirlthegirl43]

Thanks Egluntine. I know what you mean about the taste of a fresh laid egg, a treasured memory from my childhood - along with the smell of freshly boiled spud and veg peelings mixed with layer's mash on a cold winter morning!

Hope we get some, not sure what breed to go for though, will decide closer to the event but possibly bantams of some type so I don't feel so guilty about them being in an enclosed run.