Chickens and Landscaping

RaeAnnBucher

Hatching
Mar 14, 2017
2
0
7
Oklahoma
A couple of years ago, I had a flock of chickens that were killed by a pack of coyotes. We got a new flock of chicks and a Great Pyrenees, and we haven't had a problem with predators since. However, while my old chickens stayed exclusively in the back part of my property, my new flock go all over the place including my front porch. I have an awesome porch, filled with beautiful antiques and flowers, and my new chickens ate every flowering plant I had and made a mess out of what they didn't like to eat. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep chickens out of plants and landscaping?
 
Does anyone have any tips on how to keep chickens out of plants and landscaping?

By keeping them enclosed in a run, otherwise if they have access to your plants, they're most likely going to destroy them sooner or later. Not much chance of harmony between chickens and greenery - it's usually an either/or decision.
 
You have to either fence the chickens in or out. Deer netting is practically invisible for keeping chickens out of certain areas. You can cut a 7' tall roll in half, and use fiberglass fence posts woven through it, holding the fencing up with clothespins.
 
There is a home down the street from me that lets their chickens in their vegitable garden. I dont understand how they do not eat all the plants and veggies.
 
My old flock used to come and aerate my soil and eat only the insects, however in my new flock the Houdini hen from hell has taken to pulling up my seedlings. The rest have learned to stay away very quickly with a stern warning and just pushing them away. However the sneaky ninja hen will bline right for it as soon as I let them out to free range, the only thing that stops her is a squirt to the fluffy butt from a spray bottle, but only till I glance away for a split second. She has outsmarted us at every turn on any problem whether it's finding a weak section in their run to using the doggy door to run amok in the house. So basically if you have a chicken that "listens" to you you can teach them to stay out, if not kiss your garden goodbye
 
What about potted flowers? My yard is not landscaped yet, but I have started putting pots of plants along my walk way. It is spring now, and I planted many bulbs in the fall to bloom soon. What is the chance that if I used cinder blocks to raise the pots, that the chickens wouldn't peck at the newly grown bulbs? Any thoughts?
 
What about potted flowers? My yard is not landscaped yet, but I have started putting pots of plants along my walk way. It is spring now, and I planted many bulbs in the fall to bloom soon. What is the chance that if I used cinder blocks to raise the pots, that the chickens wouldn't peck at the newly grown bulbs? Any thoughts?


My birds don't seem to have a taste for most bulbs, so the plants themselves should be okay.

What may be too tempting is the nice soft dirt they're planted in. That's where my birds do the most damage with my potted flowers. I've started placing pretty rocks on the soil around the base of the plant, to keep the birds (and the cats) out.

On larger planters, I cut a piece of chicken wire to fit and cover it with a very light layer of soil, after planting seeds or bulbs. The plants can grow through the wire, and it keeps the critters out.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom