In this episode, we talk with backyard chicken expert and author Lisa Steele about her 10th Anniversary Edition of Gardening with Chickens and how chickens and gardens can work together in a practical, sustainable way.

Lisa shares her journey from growing up near a chicken farm in New England to becoming a leading voice in backyard poultry and homesteading. She breaks down how to use chickens in the garden for natural pest control, soil aeration, and fertilization, plus how timing their access can make or break your planting success. We also cover chicken manure composting, the deep litter method, and “chicken poop tea” as a natural fertilizer.

We also dive into keeping chickens out of garden beds, protecting seedlings, choosing more garden-friendly breeds, and which plants to avoid feeding your flock. Lisa explains how to turn garden surplus, herbs, and kitchen scraps into enrichment for chickens while reducing waste and improving egg quality.

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Whether you’re just getting started or expanding your flock, this episode is here to educate and inspire your poultry journey. New episodes drop every other week. Subscribe, leave a review, and send your questions or stories to [email protected].

Don’t forget to place your Meyer Hatchery order! Use code THECOOP at meyerhatchery.com for 10% off your order (one-time use per customer, $50 subtotal minimum).