chilean guava & chooks

[j_cornelissen]

Been reading about chilean guavas, they seem almost too good to be true

- drought tolerant
- divine taste (Queen Vic's favourite, not sure if that's a plus though)
- no need for netting as the birds won't touch them

Thinking of planting a couple in an area where my chooks can get to.
Now chooks are of course technically birds, but I'm not sure if they are aware of this (mine at least). So:

-does anyone know if chooks will eat the chilean guavas?
&
-are the berries really as good as I'm led to believe?

Any info would be much appreciated.

[ho-hum]

J_

I dunno about chilean guava but the 2 most successful chook trees I have seen are guavas. They are prodigious performers and basically what you dont pick the chooks will eat. They have a gorgeous form- trunks and bark, are as tough as old boots and produce enough for chooks and owners.

These are the sort of tree you would put in your straw yard.

cheers,

ho-hum

[lionfish]

I grow these. Not sure about feeding the chickens though.

Mine have not been very tolerant of the hot weather in Melbourne.

Five of 10 died this summer.

Also, they are the slowest growing things I have ever seen.

[ho-hum]

Lion,

I live in the wet/dry tropics... the natural home of the guava. I dunno how they would go in Melbourne.

cheers,

[j_cornelissen]

cheers guys,

I live in Melbourne, keeping anything alive last summer was an issue....

lion, did you grow the guavas in part shade? (and how's that taste, as divine as suggested?)

am stepping away from the W. European fruit trees and planted figs, loquat, mulberries etc, hence the interest in guavas

[lionfish]

I think guavas do grow okay in Melbourne. My Feijoa hedge is thriving.

I tried the chilean guava in full sun.

Mine didn't like that too much here, so I moved them to part shade. Time will tell how they go.

The bushes - only three/four years old, are yet to fruit, so I can't confirm that magical taste..!