Keeping poultry in the orchard

Did you know chickens prefer to free range in the understory of trees, and not in open fields? Especially if they don't have a rooster. Come check out some of my chickens and ducks and how they live - very happily - under the trees in the orchard.

[@maryhoffman9551]

Would love to learn more about keeping chickens and ducks!

[@ashgreenspinner1503]

I love learning about urban permaculture! Thanks for sharing. It’s so great to see the birds out and about.

[@deborahcoyle7612]

Yes, please more videos about suburban chickens and ducks!

[@kellysoo]

I also have chooks and ducks because my eldest daughter wanted chooks and ducks. She is now almost 20 🥰🥰🥰

[@amandarobertson8863]

I have been thinking about doing something like this as well. Thanks for the ideas!

[@kathmandu1575]

Excellent video - thanks!

[@alcrz3943]

yes please more videos on the poultry!

[@hgdon-homeiswheretreesare-9239]

Great 👍 Thanks for video !

[@Oksana07booboo]

I love your videos! I am gleaning so much information as I plan my permaculture garden, across the bridge here in E Vancouver. I would love to know what you do for plants that need water during our three months of no rain? Watering systems with timers don't seem very permaculture like, but I rely on them because I have chronic health problems that can keep me out of the garden for a week at a time, and in August especially, I could lose a lot of annuals and some perennials if I am not able to water. Also, I second someone else's request for more tips on the "no work beekeeping." :) Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and experience! It is invaluable to me as I look for PNW specific info.

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

Hi! Thank you for watching. I will definitely add those to the list of topics I should talk about.

[@ChristopherJohnsonArtist]

How established does an orchard need to be before letting chickens go through? I was planning on putting in a vegetable garden and orchard when I move to my new place in a little over a year. in other words, how long should I wait before getting chickens in that case?

[@kellysoo]

Wise advises

[@oceaninterbeing2233]

How do you collect the chicken eggs? Are they trained to lay in a box?

[@john3_14-17]

The chickens aren't really turning over the soil, they're just shifting the covering of the soil, and breaking it into pieces if possible (like with leaves or plants). A lot like a rake.

[@dulcenaia]

Do you have a recommendation for chicken breeds that are quiet?

[@TheHippieGeeks]

Other then roosters, most hens are fairly quiet ... most of the time. Hens will typically cackle when laying an egg, or in sympathy when another one of your hens is laying, or when they get spooked. Then again, sometimes they will cackle just because chicken =) The larger, more laid back breeds are often quoted as being quieter, like the Buff Orphington, Speckled Sussex and Australorps. For us though ... chickens are all randomly loud, whenever they feel like it =)

[@MistressOP]

More ducks! Plz

[@brendan3081]

how does it work for you having them in the trees? i was told that keeping chickens in my trees would produce to much nitrogen and burn the roots. we have a little backyard orchard of about 15 trees all over 5 at this point that we have gated in to keep our dogs out. So to me since its already gated it would be a perfect little permanent chicken run, but i obviously dont want to kill the trees in the process

[@ParkrosePermaculture]

It hasn’t been an issue but we do have to protect young trees from their scratching at the base.

[@Monohassan]

Wont their poop cause salmonella and/or e.coli to the orchard?

[@Monohassan]

@@frijaaesir7331really nice tips. I was referring to the excrements the birds leave on the orchard. When it rains won’t the tree absorb the e.coli and salmonella in the poop?