00:02Chickens are ravenous poop machines. A flock of 150 chickens will quickly devour and trample
00:09herbaceous vegetation down to ground level in a matter of days. Their manure adds an
00:16incredible amount of nutrients and fertility to the soil. Our challenge is to harness this
00:22force of nature to build healthy soil and produce an abundance of nutritious food in an ethical and
00:29sustainable way. In a previous video, we demonstrated how moving chickens frequently
00:37through gardens and pastures using portable shelters and fencing promotes the health of
00:42both the chickens and the soil. With this system, known as rotational grazing, each area experiences
00:51a short but intense interval of chicken activity, followed by a lengthy recovery. With just the right
00:58amount of chicken power, we can improve the long-term health and fertility of the soil.
01:05However, when too much chicken power is concentrated into a single area for too long, overgrazing
01:12can occur. The constant deposition of potent manure creates an excess of nutrients and the
01:18relentless scratching and foraging loosens the soil too much, eventually destroying any small,
01:24soil-stabilizing life within reach. Over time, rain washes the soil away, potentially contaminating
01:33downstream rivers and freshwater ecosystems. The result is a compacted and rocky landscape that
01:39provides little to no forage for the chickens. So what do we do when we need to keep our flock
01:45of chickens in a small area for long intervals? During the long and cold winter months, our chickens
01:54are kept warm and cozy at the barn. How can we maintain an enriching and productive environment for the
02:00chickens while simultaneously improving and stabilizing the soil? We hope to transform our chicken yard
02:07from a barren, rocky patch of ground into a thriving, plant-filled space. Our goal is to establish a
02:15variety of plants that provide forage and shelter for the chickens, and to create a system that stabilizes
02:21and builds soil, rather than depletes it. We began with rocky and compacted soil, overloaded with nutrients
02:30and prone to erosion. We used a rototiller to loosen up some of the soil, and then broadcast cover crop
02:37seeds, and began transplanting plants into the ground. We're experimenting with a variety of annual
02:44and perennial plants that provide good forage and shelter for chickens. Some of these plants are meant to
02:50be grazed down quickly as a living mulch, or as a kind of sacrifice to appease the ravenous chickens.
02:57Others are meant to grow into a multi-layered canopy of trees and shrubs that produce edible fruits and
03:04attract insects. Throughout the summer and early fall, the chicken yard flourished into an incredible
03:12space full of different plants. Annual plants such as pearl millet, sunflowers, and tithonia really took off.
03:20The perennial plants remained relatively small, but began to establish themselves for future growth.
03:26Mints began to spread, flowers attracted many kinds of insects, and life returned to the area.
03:35Together, these plants grew into a diverse and resilient polyculture, soaking up excess nutrients
03:41and improving the structure of the soil. Biomass began accumulating in the form of plant tissues,
03:47and as living organisms, both above and below the ground. After just a single growing season, the
03:55chicken yard had transformed into a chicken paradise. They were greeted with sunflower seeds, insects,
04:01leafy vegetation, shade and shelter, and a stimulating environment that they very clearly loved.
04:08They gobbled up seeds and scurried around the understory of pearl millet and tithonia.
04:15As winter began to take hold, we gave the chickens some of our leftover pumpkins and squash,
04:21and even with snow on the ground, the chickens happily explored their yard.
04:28Deeper into winter, however, snow and cold temperatures discouraged the chickens from going
04:33outside very much. At this point, the ground is completely frozen and covered with snow,
04:40and the chickens stay warm and cozy inside their coop. The soil is given a chance to rest,
04:46while the chickens can only dream of warmer days to come. The next step will be to once again move
04:53the chickens out into the pastures and gardens as temperatures warm up again. We will then repeat
04:59the cycle of planting. Our plan is to take it slow and see what works and what doesn't. It will
05:05certainly
05:05be a few years before we see any significant growth from the tree and shrub species. But eventually,
05:11a diverse canopy of perennial vegetation will form, providing even more forage and shelter to our
05:18chickens. Over time, the system will become more sustainable, cycling nutrients from the manure back
05:26into plant tissues and healthy soil. It will be a more ethical way to raise chickens, giving them access
05:32to all their favorite things so that they can live the best life and healthiest life possible.
05:38This system connects us with our food and the land, fostering a strong land ethic and sense of place.
05:46We are continually learning and adapting our farming practices to create more sustainable and ethical
05:51land use systems. As time goes on, I will continue to document this project and make updates in the future.
05:59My question to you is, how would you mitigate the effects of overgrazing and harness the power of
06:05chickens more effectively? What other solutions to this problem exist? If you have any suggestions,
06:12questions, or ideas, please let us know in the comments. I hope you enjoyed the video,
06:16and I'll try to make some more videos sometime soon. Have a good one.
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