A challenge that I have not yet met.
I’m talking about keeping a nice yard with dogs and chickens.
This is especially important in urban areas.
Having separate areas for your pets and chickens that can be landscaped around and ‘hidden’ from view is the best option I have seen.
You almost can’t tell there is a coop in this garden.
A coop and chicken pen blended into a well landscaped yard with shrubs and grasses, works nicely. I know of people who keep chickens in towns where they are not allowed, and they are tucked in so discretely that no one is even aware.
My dogs have their own fenced off pooping area.
They even have their own back door that leads to it.
(I have mentioned before, that actually is one reason we bought this house).
Every spring it turns to a muddy mess. We have taught them to wait and let us go through the tedious job of wiping off their feet before they come in, but that doesn’t change the fact that their area is an eyesore.
Every year we re-seed the grass which my husband then ‘babies’ until it is thick and green. We forget about the problem until the following spring.
This year we are not forgetting.
We have decided to put gravel down. I saw it on Pinterest so of course it is a great idea!
Our dog ‘poop’ area will be larger and fenced in but ya get the idea?
Here is a link with instructions in case you would also like to do it:
http://www.welcomepup.com/blog/how-to-build-an-outdoor-dog-potty-are/
All we have to do is dig out the dirt to a depth of about 4 inches, put hardware fabric down and cover with gravel.
Easy-peasy, right?
Since we can’t get a back hoe into the yard, we get the fabulous pleasure of digging out the dirt by hand.
No problem!
It is a good work-out and I have places to put the dug-out dirt:
- Some will go next to the new fence fill the gap and keep the neighbors dog from peeking and maybe digging under it.
- A bit is going into my metal firepit which I have decided to turn into a planter (I have moved the darn thing a zillion times and still can’t find a spot I like. It is either too close to the house or coop or to the fruit trees) I promise to post pictures when it is finished.
- The majority is going into my veggie garden. Yes I know it is poopy but it will be mixed in with the other soil and compost and will have a good month or two before anything is growing in it. I know my dogs are parasite free.
I will be sure to post pics of the finished project – sorry I don’t have ‘before’ pics but just picture a poopy muddy mess.
The chickens also have their own area and to keep it from being an eyesore I planted some ornamental grass around it last year. I plan to add to it this year. The plan is to almost completely ‘hide’ the pen. I don’t care how cute a coop is, the pen will be picked clean of any growing thing and have nothing but dirt and chicken poop.
Not pretty!
Totally unrealistic! These plants wouldn’t last a day!
THIS is what the floor of a chicken pen actually looks like.
If you let the chickens free range the entire yard all the time they will eat your plants as they sprout, make a total mess of your mulch, poop on your deck, roost and poop on your patio furniture and dig holes to take dust baths in.
Also not pretty.
Now if YOU don’t mind your yard looking like a barnyard that is fine with ME.
Most of us DO mind and so do the neighbors.
A compromise is needed.
This book has some great ideas!
We placed an arbor in front of the entrance to the pen and plan to grow a pretty vine over it this year.
Hanging planters on the coop or from shepherd’s hooks, flower boxes or trellises with vines where the chickens can’t reach, are more great options.
I think sharing your outdoor space with pets and chickens can be done attractively.
I like the look of the vine growing on the coop. You have to be careful the chooks can’t reach it though or they will eat it ALL!
We shall see!
How do you keep your yard nice with chickens and/or pets?
Do you ‘hide’ your coop and pen?
What suggestions can you offer?
ruthschickens 
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