Chicken Garden Massacre OR Partying Down...

Earlier in the week, Len & I discussed letting our (16) chickens out to "free range" as their chicken yard was mostly mud.  The chickens were set free Wednesday morning.  They happily dispersed, staying in our cleared areas, yet exploring them all. Our dog, Sam, guards them, so he enjoying visiting with them.  They were all raised with him except the Speckled Sussex Hens.  What was new to them were our adopted cats, Bella, age 5, and Dora, age 3.  Of course, the cats were rather surprised to see the "inmates" freed.  The major threat, "Baja," the 105# dog on the nearest property, was no longer any thread (her invisible fence worked).  So, chickens enjoying their nirvana, at least for two days before I discovered the MAHEM!

My lovely chickens didn't get in the main garden area, due to it being fenced off.  I hadn't considered an obvious temptation, the ultimate for them, my 4 new raised beds.  These beds weren't fenced, no, because they were planted with Garlic, which deer don't eat...  The temptation proved too much; the chickens succumbed, ravaging all they could eat of the "wheat or oat" growing up through the straw (had tackled just one of those 4 beds...).  These girls made short work of those luscious greens, in fact, they "partied" at the same time, trampling all through my Garlic, hence the "massacre."  Yes, my Garlic will recover, as it is very early in the Season, but those chickens are GROUNDED!  Of course, at the same time, they saved me a few hours of hard work...LOL :)
 This is what the Garden Beds looked like before the chickens got in them:

Now, above back right bed...see what looks like grass?

Yes, it was thick like this throughout most of the bed w/Garlic growing up through it...

 Sigh, okay, this was the thickest matted bed, now to recover from the chicken "assault."  The area where these raised beds are will be fenced with chicken wire, how appropriate!  Then, the chickens' sentence will be served and free they shall be!

We will now change the subject to my little greenhouse.  The work has begun.  I have moved a bunch of Comfrey, Choc Mint, and some Lady's Mantles into the greenhouse.  There will be a steady stream of traffic moving plants out of my living room and enclosed porch as everything grows larger or germinates.  It is still a bit cool out for planting the garden.

I have begun to clean it out, will probably leave the straw on the ground.  The beds will be cleared out and planted this weekend (all 3 of them).  Comfrey is on the top shelf, with some Choc Mint on the 2nd shelf, and Egyptian Walking Onions to the right on that shelf.  Below that shelf, there are Lady's Mantles growing in a bin, temporarily.

Tune in for more regular updates!