Chicken, Rabbit and Rye Rotation...Permaculture?

I'm rotating my Chicken Coop and Rabbits over growing annual rye. Next year I will plant the 3-sisters (corn, beans and squash). Is this considered a Permaculture technique?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• garden
• urban
• farming
• chicken
• rabbit
• green
• self-sustaining

[CroFabulous]

I think what you doing is quite cool, but here's what I don't understand: Why do you let the chickens destroy the grass only so you need to use lots of energy to till it and  replant it with what is essentially a grass as well? Why not rotate the chickens earlier to keep the grass growing strong? The rabbits might go well in front of the chickens, so the chickens can scratch through the rabbit poo. I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Cheers.

[jedesignz]

@CroFabulous He does say that part of the area will be a 3 sister's garden next year, but if he does this in other area's, he can plant more variety that could be more beneficial to the chickens and rabbits. Once he gets seed established, he won't need to let the chickens eat everything, as they love new growth and want it fairly short. If he lets it grow, 6-12 inches, rabbits can eat it down, then let it rest and regrow and then add chickens. After they eat it down, let it rest and grow.

[MushroomPatch]

@jedesignz Excellent! I'm very new at this so THANK YOU for your input!!!

[MushroomPatch]

Why do I allow the Chickens to destroy and dig up the area? Well, honestly, it's because I don't know any better. I'm very new to this and so diperately need input for better ways to make this work. The Rabbits do go in front of the chickens so the can each just the tops of the rye. My problem is that I have a limit amount of rotation space so by the time I have rye grown out...it's time to more. Also, I have a large amount of rye seed that I have for my busn. MushroomPatchCOM

[CroFabulous]

@MushroomPatch Even with your limited space, judging from the video you should have enough room to do this. Then you only need to rototill once you are ready to plant the three sisters (or instead of tilling, if you have a lot of organic materials, use sheet mulch). Part of the permaculture principles of saving energy and using simple solutions ;)

[MushroomPatch]

@CroFabulous Yes...that sounds like a winner! I'm going to give it a try. Also...I am looking to build a Rabbit Hutch that will allow them more freedom and yet protect the first few inches of growing vegetation. This is good!

[gaiagale]

I would forget about the rototiller (it is a serious earthworm assault ...they are the natural tillers that you might want to keep in service ;-]) ...the chickens do more than enough mixing ...besides permaculture is about following natural processes ...just a thought

you might want to check out Masanobu Fukuoka and Emilia Hazelip ...there are some awesome YT videos re their methods

[CroFabulous]

@MushroomPatch Well the input I would give you (as a fairly experienced permie) is this: Rotate the rabbits first, followed by chickens (leave them as long as you can without killing the grass... few days maybe), keep this rotation going in an S-pattern until you've covered the whole yard, then repeat at the beginning. Grass should be lush by now with new growth. Saves time and money that would otherwise be spent tilling and sowing. Chickens & rabbits love plain ol' grass just as much as rye...

[MushroomPatch]

@jedesignz That's the kind of info. I'm looking for. thank you!

[jedesignz]

You might want to add some clover to your grass mix. Add some more nitrogen plus the chickens and rabbits will love it. Nice idea.

[MushroomPatch]

That is a great idea!