Afraid chickens are killing my shrubs/small trees

[Gone fishin]

So my chickens are aggressively digging under my shrubs and trees. To the point they are exposing roots and making a real mess. Any suggestions in what I can do to prevent this behavior to save these shrubs and young trees?

 

[sourland]

Fencing will work. A motion activated sprinkler system might help.

 

[Folly's place]

Fencing, 2" to 4" rocks in a layer around them, protection for the area under their canopy. Our birds love to make dust bath sites under the plants, never a good thing for especially young plants. Mulch is good for the plants, but a prime digging location for the birds, so we added rocks in a layer over the mulch.
Mary