Do poultry and gardens mix?

Usually the answer is no as poultry can be very destructive to gardens.

This is especially so of vegetable gardens which they will decimate by both eating the produce and digging around.

Poultry can be integrated into a permaculture system but these birds are usually penned or held in moveable pens which are used to prepare beds.

Here the digging and insect eating is enhanced by the poultry manure they leave behind. This is effective bed preparation and the birds can be moved on.

My grandfather let his Rhode Island Reds loose in the orchard, the birds had the windfall fruit and kept insects to a minimum while not damaging trees.

Keep in mind here that chickens do not like citrus fruit but they will eat the fruit flies and the larvae that often plague these fruits.

Poultry will also dig through the trees if mulched heavily but this can be overcome with wire if needed.

Ducks can also be used in the orchard if the trees are mature but they too like vegetables, especially leafy ones so that's something to avoid.

For the backyard breeder it is best to keep birds enclosed and keep the numbers small, usually three to four birds is enough for a family, as they can be wearing on the garden.

If you are into gardening the best vegetable gardens will provide enough off cuts and leftovers for the birds and this will more than keep them happy.

Chooks love the silver beet and similar vegetables that kids reject and they love things like lettuce, comfrey, chickweed and any plants that go to seed.

Chooks will even rummage through lawn clippings.

By thinking about your birds before letting them loose in the garden you can have both in a sustainable and complimentary manner.

Back in the day when I worked for the then Department of Agriculture we would send 10 ton of chook manure to the Botanic Gardens each week and they look pretty good!