Greenhouses and Chickens

Biddy Brooder · Post by **Biddy Brooder** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:37 am

Ask and you shall receive! Thank you all for your input. What I thought was going to be one project has now turned into many. I am def going to tarp in a section of the run for the winter to keep the kids happy in their current set up.

For my other project, I am going to start by building a greenhouse. If i build a coop attached to outside of the greenhouse they could use the greenhouse as a run in the day and retire to the more insulated coop at night through the late fall and winter. When spring arrives and its time for planting, the chooks are evicted to the great outdoors. This would give me a good fall clean up of leftovers, add some butt nugget fertilizer, turn the dirt and keep the chooks warm with a place to roam around. Right? What am I missing?

ross · Post by **ross** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:43 am

If I read right your gonna plant veggies in green house in spring then turn chicks into harvest bugs .Am I right or wrong ? In a confined area like that theyed probably eat veggies too if not protected . Will work well if using for winter & manure . Luck

baronrenfrew · Post by **baronrenfrew** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 10:49 am

I think it would work if done right. on the plant side too much manure (as long as its not too fresh) would push green growth (leaves) and may reduce flowering. So ya gotta learn how to "balance" the plant "feeding".

I plan to do somethig similiar in the future (i have a few things on the to do list that are more pressing.)

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:11 am

I hope Jan (www) chimes in, I know she has a green house and used it for chickens, If I am not mistaken she found it got too hot too fast?
Like Bert mentioned, chicken manure needs to be composted for 2 years (three if you are planning to go organic) to get rid of the pathogens and to balance PH.
It all depends on what you are going to grow and how finicky you are

Brebis · Post by **Brebis** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 11:36 am

One idea may be to put a layer of straw down in the fall in the greenhouse and rake that up in the spring to compost to keep the fresh manure load to a minimum so it doesn't "burn" the new plantings. Adding greens and other compostable things will help balance the nitrogen:Carbon ratio of the compost.

There are lots of examples of using poultry in mixed livestock systems (with rabbits, pigs, sheep) in greenhouse type structures on bedded packs that allow a more desirable mix of components in the pack (manures, straw, hay, misc.) that start composting in the pack and then really well and quickly when it is removed. Most of these will be ready in a few months after its removed.

Definitely lots of possibilities!

Biddy Brooder · Post by **Biddy Brooder** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:00 pm

ross wrote:QR_BBPOST If I read right your gonna plant veggies in green house in spring then turn chicks into harvest bugs .Am I right or wrong ? In a confined area like that theyed probably eat veggies too if not protected . Will work well if using for winter & manure . Luck

Keep the chickens in the greenhouse over the winter and kick them out when its time for veggies in spring. And yes, fall cleanup, and to overwinter and manure.

Biddy Brooder · Post by **Biddy Brooder** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:01 pm

Brebis wrote:QR_BBPOST One idea may be to put a layer of straw down in the fall in the greenhouse and rake that up in the spring to compost to keep the fresh manure load to a minimum so it doesn't "burn" the new plantings. Adding greens and other compostable things will help balance the nitrogen:Carbon ratio of the compost.

There are lots of examples of using poultry in mixed livestock systems (with rabbits, pigs, sheep) in greenhouse type structures on bedded packs that allow a more desirable mix of components in the pack (manures, straw, hay, misc.) that start composting in the pack and then really well and quickly when it is removed. Most of these will be ready in a few months after its removed.

Definitely lots of possibilities!

Great thinking. I was thinking that I didn't have to wait 2 years (or 3)...

I guess putting down straw and raking it up come spring would be the best bet.

Biddy Brooder · Post by **Biddy Brooder** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:03 pm

Ontario Chick wrote:QR_BBPOST I hope Jan (www) chimes in, I know she has a green house and used it for chickens, If I am not mistaken she found it got too hot too fast?
Like Bert mentioned, chicken manure needs to be composted for 2 years (three if you are planning to go organic) to get rid of the pathogens and to balance PH.
It all depends on what you are going to grow and how finicky you are

I would have to allow them access to the greenhouse and to outside so they can self regulate when required.

ross · Post by **ross** » Thu Aug 25, 2016 12:36 pm

Sounds good to me biddy . Keep us informed with pics . Luck

windwalkingwolf · Post by **windwalkingwolf** » Fri Aug 26, 2016 2:55 am

I'll get back to this hopefully tomorrow night to explain better, but this is what I did:

First picture is a crappy view from the back...there are two chicken hatches on either side that open out into small secure runs, which can open out into the larger communal area enclosed by trampoline netting.