Shadow Farmer
In the depths of winter when the grass stops growing we stop moving the chicken pen so frequently – there’s not much point. The hens would just decimate whatever area they were parked on. Instead, we add fresh hay and veggies each day along with the hens’ ration of feed and then let them scratch away. They do nibble at the hay, but over time the hay layers build up. The combination of chicken manure and hay creates a lovely environment for worms and other grubs and the hens wind up having quite a good time scratching around hunting for these tasty morsels.
![IMG_9122[1]](https://darkcreekfarmdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/img_91221.jpg)
Now that the spring is here we are moving the pen more often and this has left a trail of patches of heavily mulched/prepped potato beds. We’ve been planting potatoes for the past month or so and will continue to add straw, etc as the plants begin to grow. Next year, we will have the foundation for some nice new beds to which we can add some well-rotted compost and soiled bedding from the hen houses and we can plant some heavy-feeding plants down in the same area.
![IMG_9119[1]](https://darkcreekfarmdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/img_91191.jpg)
The dogs have a whole field to run around in, but without fail, they prefer to frolic right in the new beds, which is why I was seen hiking along the road with a huge roll of portable fencing over my shoulder. This should help keep the dogs off the potatoes!
![IMG_9209[1]](https://darkcreekfarmdotcom.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/img_92091.jpg)
Many thanks to LS and ME for their help getting this job done.
Varieties planted: Sieglinde, banana fingerlings, Russian blue, Russian fingerlings, Warba
darkcreekfarmdotcom 
Love fingerling potatoes!
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They are the best!! We put in lots this year – fingers crossed they do well!
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Have you had trouble growing them before? Last year we planted yellow fleshed potatoes only and they were in excellent shape as opposed to the potatoes we grew on Martindale, which were so scabby. My mouth is watering just thinking about potatoes fresh from the garden, smothered in butter and chives!! Bad, bad, good, good…
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So far, no issues – and these are fresh beds, so we should be ok… Time will tell!
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I like the mobile chicken pen. Does it take 4 people to move it?
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The pen is quite lightweight – at the moment we are having trouble with the house, which is heavy and the tires are always going flat! Once we swap the wheels out, the whole thing is pretty easy to shift with either one strong, or two normal people…
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Fellow A to Z’er here. Shawn from Laughing at Life 2 Great post!
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Thanks for dropping by! That’s quite the list of phobias you have over there! Thanks for the chuckle…
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