AHH! How to keep the chickens from eating my hostas?

[sheeshshe]

I'm going to have no hostas this year apparently.

is there any way at all to keep them from eating them short of locking them up and not letting them out ever? I dont want to do that... or do I just suck it up and realize I'll never have hostas again.

 

[redhen]

Fence in your chickens or fence in your hosta.. those are your only options.

 

[edselpdx]

I fenced in my hostas. And my bleeding heart. And my epimedium. Good luck.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I gave them alternative targets. Mmm... chard... Yummy!!!

They like pretty much all dark leafy greens. You could try planting a good sized patch while they're locked up. Maybe it will save your hostas when they get out again.

 

[sheeshshe]

See, they have plenty of clover to eat which they love. but they can't seem to resist the hosta. Last year they didn't bother it, this year.... YUM! grrrrrrr. I'm going to have to figure out a plan here.

 

[TeriNick50]

Right now, I don't let the girls out without supervision and a straw broom!
Unfortunately, unless you put a fence around EVERYTHING, they are going to beat up vegetation.
A good swat with the straw broom on their fluffy fannies sends them squawking and running in the opposite direction!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Bring your hostas into the house?

 

[sheeshshe]

BUT, do they learn that the broom means don't go there? will they learn that? oooh, I don't know if I could do it, LOL. I'm a wimp!

 

[LeahOregon]

We had to stop letting our girls run free in the yard. They were attacking our hostas, roses, and newly planted veggie garden. We built a porta-run for them, and we put them in it for about an hour each evening so they can still get bugs and grass.

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Chicken wire around them or around anything you don't want them eating.
We have a 27x31 veggie garden with 3 foot chicken wire around it. They are in a run but I let them out at times and have to chase them away from my flower beds, especially the poisonous ones like the Lilly of the valley.