Garden Photo of the Day

Chickens in Tingshu’s Garden

A diverse, and quirky, flock of chickens enjoys a Massachusetts garden as much as the humans do

chicken on a garden retaining wall

Hi GPODers!

Today we’re returning to the garden of Tingshu Hu and her husband, Philip Zhao, in Dunstable, Massachusetts. Tingshu has shared their vibrant space several times in the past (Tingshu’s Low Maintenance Garden, Flowering Trees in Tingshu’s Garden, Summer in Tingshu’s Front Garden, and Summer in Tingshu’s Back Garden), but most recently their designs were featured in issue #221 of Fine Gardening magazine! Be sure to check out that feature here: A Space Created with Chinese Design Elements and English Garden Aesthetics

Though there is endless plant and hardscape interest to be explored in this New England garden, Tingshu is sharing another element of the garden that provides as much benefit as entertainment: A flock of chickens!

We have about 30 chickens. They produce most of the fertilizer for the gardens. When the growing season is nearing an end, we invite them to the gardens to eat whatever they like, the flowers, leaves, seeds and bugs.

rooster following hen in flower filled gardenA Yokohama rooster follows a black hen. One of their favorite flowers is the white sweet alyssum (Lobularia maritima, Zones 5–9). After a few days, all the white petals will be gone. Then I will pull out some alyssum plants from the front garden and bring them to the chicken yard. They also munch on leaves such as sweet William (Dianthus barbatus, Zones 3–9) and Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum × superbum, Zones 5–9).

black chickens under a crabapple treeIn the center of the back garden, the Prairefire crabapple (Malus ‘Prairiefire’ Zones 4–8) is loaded with red berries. The small birds have started to eat the berries but they are out of reach of the chickens. In the winter, I will collect the berries and feed the chickens.

rooster and hen on path in gardenThe small rooster is an old English game bantam (silver duckwing). He is 2.5 years old. The hen is a barred rock, 1.5 years old.

chicken on path filled with ground coversA buff rock is strolling along a path. She is also 1.5 years old.

chickens eating amongst ground coversThe silver duckwing rooster and two barred rock hens. The hen below the Solomon’s seal is 9.5 years old.

chicken on a garden retaining wallA Columbian rock hen on the stone retaining wall. She is 4 years old.

chicken sitting on photographers head as he photographs a treeDuring the summer, the chickens are kept in the chicken yard, taking care of the fruit trees. The rooster on the head of Philip is a black tailed Japanese white bantam. His favorite sport is flying on top of a human, luckily, never pooped on the head.

black and grey chickens eating tomatoesThe gray polish hen is 10.5 years old. The black polish is 8.5. They are not related but are attracted to each other due to similar goofy personality. They don’t mingle with other chickens, possibly because they are conscious that other chickens think they are weirdos. They are very sweet birds. They don’t see very well, so I can approach them from behind and catch them by surprise. All visitors love them.

chickens up in small treesThe Yokohama rooster crowing on a peach tree. He does eat some peach after crowing.

child feeding chickens yellow flowersMy granddaughter (2 years old)’s favorite activity is feeding the chickens. In early May, forsythia flowers are very convenient. The flowers on the lower branches have been eaten clean. I cut off some upper branches every day to feed the chickens. They are not wasted since forsythia is very vigorous and needs to be heavily pruned every year. The tiny hen on the left is an old English game bantam, she is 11.5 years old. I like to bring her to a hidden place and feed her bugs or broken eggs.

Thank you so much for sharing your fantastic flock of funky birds with us, Tingshu! With every new bath of photos you share from your garden, the more and more interesting your space becomes.

Do you garden with chickens? Or maybe you have some ducks that call your garden pond home. We’d love to see your feathered friends! Follow the directions below to submit your photos.

 

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Comments

  1. nwphilagardener 12/12/2024

    While this post is clearly focused on the poultry, I would hope more info would be offered about the plants. Which ajuga was that purple drift? What variety of Canna and perhaps Dahlia did we spy? Any more you care to share about the garden and not its clucking inhabitants?

    1. Tingshu99 12/12/2024

      Thanks for your interests in the plants. I love to share information about them. The purple ajuga is burgundy glow. Another type of ajuga in the picture is pink lightning. Attached is a picture taken in the Spring, when these ajugas were blooming. The canna in this blog is Canna striata, the dahlia is happy single Juliet. You can see more information about the plants in my garden in other blogs:
      https://www.finegardening.com/?s=tingshu

  2. User avater
    musabasjoosue 12/12/2024

    So many lovely details in Tingshu's garden and now chickens! Congrats on the well deserved magazine feature.

  3. bottlegreen 12/12/2024

    What a picker-upper! And it's always a pleasure to see your beautiful garden.

  4. gardendevas 12/12/2024

    How delightful! How large is your property, Tingshu?
    Your gardens are lush and gorgeous - I enjoy them each time you share them.
    Thanks!

    1. Tingshu99 12/12/2024

      Thanks for your encouragement. My property is 1 acre.

  5. bunny2luv 12/12/2024

    Thanks for sharing, Tingshu! I love seeing the chickens in the garden. I live in a town quite close to you, if you have visiting days in your garden, I'd love to come!
    I especially love the Polish chickens!

    1. Tingshu99 12/12/2024

      Good to know you live in a nearby town. You are very welcome to visit my garden and my chickens. I will see if there is a way to give you my contact information.

  6. btucker9675 12/12/2024

    I am in love with everything about your gardens and chickens!! Can't stop smiling!!!

  7. User avater
    treasuresmom 12/12/2024

    Oh my word! What a great pic of the rooster on Philip's head. And as always everything is just beautiful!

  8. Tingshu99 12/12/2024

    Thank you all for your nice comments! I truly appreciate your encouragement!
    Happy Holidays!

  9. User avater
    treasuresmom 12/13/2024

    Tingshu, are you on Instagram

    1. Tingshu99 12/13/2024

      It is a shame that I don't have any account in Instagram, facebook, X, etc.
      I might be living in the 19th century. Wait ..., I do have a Linkedin account :-)

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