Sami Grover
DCL
A couple of weeks ago I wrote about how my chickens provide unexpected bug control but their skills go way beyond that. I've also discovered that they are great at turning over my compost heap, and they've cleared out a recent maggot infestation in the process. This really is a win-win situation—I simply lift off the tarp that covers my heap, the chickens climb on—pick out whatever food they fancy, turn the heap over a bit, add a little sprinkling of poop, and then they move on.
It's an illustration of how backyard chickens, and many other elements of an organic garden, work better if we look at them as part of a larger interconnected system. Eggs are nice—but eggs, manure, bug control and free compost turning—that's dynamite, especially when they get some free chicken food in the process. In fact, chickens are so effective at turning over soil, picking out bugs, and giving a little poop back, that many folks design 'chicken tractors' that are designed to be moved around the garden. For those who don't want to build their own, Omlet's Eglu chicken coop makes a great chicken tractor.
I also credit chickens with keeping my lawn in a healthy state - they wonder the lawn, picking at the vegetation and bugs, and depositing a convenient dollop of organic fertilizer wherever they go. Now if they would just leave the marigolds alone...
Hankering for a home makeover? Manifest your green American Dream with tips from Planet Green TV's Greenovate.
