Hens on the Potato Patch

[Sue]

My hens are back on the patch where I grew potatoes and I thought I'd dug them all up but so far they unearthed enough potatoes for 4 meals. A bit embarassing as hadn't been as thorough as I'd thought. As I sit and watch over them I often see a potato flying through the air and hey, I've got another one!

Sue

[MaureenHall]

What a good idea Think I might just take some of my girls down to mine when I've finished digging them all up

[Bramble-Poultry]

they are doing you a good job Sue - you could do without potato volunteers springing up in your carrots next year!!!

[Glutton4...]

We've still got them coming up three years later at my Dad's plot, and that's after the Chooks spent a couple of days there! I guess they can have a bit longer on there this year

[Suechooks]

Great idea - off to let the girls on to potato patch right now!

[tlck9]

I wish my fencing around my allotment was higher, I could do with them killing the grass, and digging it, adding a little natural manure

But unfortuently has only a 4 foot fence and I havent gained the courage to clip wings yet, although I did read couldnt do that for the first 6 months anyway

perhaps I can let them loose one evening with the slugs, I think I have taken to breeding slugs, rather than growing lettuces, perhaps there is a recipe there somewhere, uck

[HayleyB]

You've discovered a new sport there Sue - catch the flying tattie

[Sue]

HayleyB
With my catching skills, no chance!

Tick9, I use that bright orange road netting, hideous but it does the job. I think it cost about £50 for 30metres +poles. I don't have problems with mine flying over the top but occasionally one of them, usually Ruby manages to squirm underneath. I just have to go and get her back. Luckily non of my hens do a runner and its always been easy to get them back in again.

If your hens are tame then it shouldn't be a problem catching them again. One of the other allotment holders - chuck food in, clean them out every six months type - had one get loose and it took about an hour to catch her again. Mind you the next time, the poor hen was so hungry it was easy to catch her with food. The fox got them after that....


Sue

[julesapple]

Tent pegs..

HayleyB
With my catching skills, no chance!

Tick9, I use that bright orange road netting, hideous but it does the job. I think it cost about £50 for 30metres +poles. I don't have problems with mine flying over the top but occasionally one of them, usually Ruby manages to squirm underneath. I just have to go and get her back. Luckily non of my hens do a runner and its always been easy to get them back in again.

If your hens are tame then it shouldn't be a problem catching them again. One of the other allotment holders - chuck food in, clean them out every six months type - had one get loose and it took about an hour to catch her again. Mind you the next time, the poor hen was so hungry it was easy to catch her with food. The fox got them after that....


Sue

Tent pegs every few feet around the bottom does the trick...I've got debris netting too, but mine's green.

Jules