Chickens in Tingshu’s Garden

A diverse, and quirky, flock of chickens enjoys a Massachusetts garden as much as the humans do

Hi GPODers !

Today we ’re returning to the garden of Tingshu Hu and her husband , Philip Zhao , in Dunstable , Massachusetts . Tingshu has partake in their vibrant space several times in the past ( Tingshu ’s Low Maintenance Garden , Flowering Trees in Tingshu ’s Garden , Summer in Tingshu ’s Front Garden , andSummer in Tingshu ’s Back Garden ) , but most recently their designs were featured inissue # 221ofFine Gardeningmagazine ! Be sure to check out that feature here : A Space Created with Chinese Design Elements and English Garden Aesthetics

Though there is dateless works and hardscape stake to be explored in this New England garden , Tingshu is share another element of the garden that provide as much benefit as entertainment : A flock of chickens !

We have about 30 chickens . They get most of the fertilizer for the gardens . When the growing time of year is nearing an closing , we invite them to the gardens to rust whatever they like , the efflorescence , leaves , seeds and bugs .

A Yokohama cock follow a black biddy . One of their preferent heyday is the white angelical alyssum(Lobularia maritima , Zones 5–9).After a few days , all the white petal will be kick the bucket . Then I will pull out some madwort plants from the front garden and bring them to the chicken yard . They also munch on leaves such assweet William(Dianthus barbatus , Zones 3–9)and Shasta daisy(Leucanthemum×superbum , Zones 5–9 ) .

In the center of the back garden , the Prairefire crabapple(Malus‘Prairiefire ’ zone 4–8)is loaded with red berries . The small skirt have bulge to eat the berries but they are out of reach of the chickens . In the winter , I will hoard the Charles Edward Berry and feed the chickens .

The diminished rooster is an honest-to-god English game bantam ( silver duckwing ) . He is 2.5 days old . The hen is a bar rock , 1.5 years old .

A buff stone is stroll along a path . She is also 1.5 days erstwhile .

The silver duckwing rooster and two barred sway biddy . The hen below the Solomon ’s sealis 9.5 year old .

A Columbian rock biddy on the stone retaining wall . She is 4 year sure-enough .

During the summer , the poulet are kept in the crybaby yard , taking fear of the yield trees . The rooster on the headspring of Philip is a black trail Japanese white-hot bantam . His favorite fun is flying on top of a homo , fortuitously , never pooped on the capitulum .

The grey polish hen is 10.5 age sometime . The black cultivation is 8.5 . They are not related but are pull to each other due to exchangeable zany personality . They do n’t mingle with other chickens , possibly because they are conscious that other chickens think they are weirdos . They are very sweet birds . They do n’t see very well , so I can approach them from behind and catch them by surprise . All visitant have intercourse them .

The Yokohama cock crowing on a peach tree . He does use up some apricot after crowing .

My granddaughter ( 2 age quondam ) ’s favorite activity is prey the chickens . In former May , forsythiaflowers are very commodious . The peak on the lower branches have been eat clear . I veer off some upper branches every Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to fee the chickens . They are not wasted since forsythia is very vigorous and needs to be heavily pruned every year . The midget hen on the left field is an onetime English game bantam , she is 11.5 year old . I care to bring her to a hidden station and feed her bug or low eggs .

give thanks you so much for sharing your fantastic flock of foetid birds with us , Tingshu ! With every Modern bath of photos you share from your garden , the more and more interesting your space becomes .

Have photos to partake ? We ’d roll in the hay to see your garden , a particular aggregation of plants you love , or a wonderful garden you had the chance to shoot the breeze !

To give in , send 5 - 10 photos to[email protected]along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photo . We ’d get it on to hear where you are located , how long you ’ve been gardening , succeeder you are gallant of , failures you learned from , hopes for the future tense , pet plants , or mirthful stories from your garden .

Have a mobile sound ? tail your photos onFacebook , InstagramorTwitterwith # FineGardening !

Do you receive the GPOD by e-mail yet?Sign up here .

o.k. Gardening Recommended Products

Corona E - Grip Trowel

chicken on a garden retaining wall

Fine Gardening receive a commission for token purchased through links on this site , including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programme .

Ho - Mi Digger - Korean Triangle Blade

X3 Stainless Steel Midi - Mod Fountain

rooster following hen in flower filled garden

Get our latest tip , how - to article , and instructional video institutionalize to your inbox .

Signing you up …

Tingshu’s Garden in Winter

Tingshu’s Front Garden in Late Summer

Tingshu’s Back Garden in Late Summer

Tingshu’s Low Maintenance Garden in Massachusetts

Join Fine Gardening for a free engaging unrecorded webinar featuring Dr. Janna Beckerman , a notable flora pathologist as well as professor emerita at Purdue University and the ornamental proficient manager …

When I spotted a particular sand dollar cactus ( Astrophytum asterias ) at the Philadelphia Flower Show a few months ago , I cognize I was in trouble . With a delightful color pattern …

When we only prioritize plants we desire over plants our landscape painting need , each time of year is fulfill with a never - stop list of job : pruning , vellicate , lacrimation , treating , amending , and fertilizing , with …

black chickens under a crabapple tree

Video

Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be measured when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping — not because you ’re likely to trip on something , but because you might be dive - bombed by a pair …