CHICKENS IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
Proposed by: Matt Palmer
Presenters: Palmer, M. , Agriculture/4-HYouth Agent, Utah State Universtiy, Ephraim, UT 84627
Frame, D., Extension Poultry Specialist, Associate Professor, Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Utah State University Cooperative Extension, Logan, UT 84322
Palmer, N.K., Marketing Director, CentraCom Interactive, Fairview, UT 84629
Back yard gardening is very popular in central Utah. Most home lots have enough room to accommodate a vegetable garden. A great number of home owners grow vegetables in the garden to supplement family meals. Over the past few years, the cost of commercial fertilizer, herbicides, and insecticides has greatly increased. Also, many home owners desire to reduce or eliminate the use of commercial fertilizers and pesticides. The design of this project is to incorporate poultry into a sustainable back yard garden setting aimed at reducing commercial fertilizer, herbicides and pesticides normally utilized in gardening. Seventy chicks (60 broilers and 10 layers) were brooded and placed into two garden enclosures. Soil nutrient levels of phosphorus and potassium increased inside the enclosures. Percent weed cover and insect numbers where greatly reduced inside the enclosure. Educational programming included a field day and project garden show on a local cable channel.