ARG! Chickens discovered my veggie garden!!

[JennsPeeps]

My chickens have been free-ranging in my backyard for WEEKS. I've been feeling rather smug, watching them eat grass & weeds but not touch the veggies. We had a wet & cold spring in the Pacific Northwest, so my garden is only just now getting a decent start. I had to replant quite a bit because of it.

Well, so much for that.

Today the little boogers - led by the resident twisted beak banty - figured out that all those succulent little plants are t-a-s-t-y.

Beans I just replanted & only recently sprouted? mowed down
Jalapenos I'd been nursing in special terra cota pots? totally leafless
Basil untouched by slugs or snails? trimmed neatly
Replanted cucumbers? nibbled to lace

AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Strangely, they didn't touch the lettuce, tomatoes, peas, kohlrabi, or sweet peppers. I think they were saving those for dessert for tomorrow. Sigh...

Now I have to get their run completed so that I can use the leftover chicken wire to fence off the veggies. You know, the veggies I planted for people, not chickens.

 

[CarlaRiggs]

Frankly, Jenn, I think it rude of you not to plant some of those wonderful veggies for your hens. If you *really, truly* loved them, you wouldn't have such a bad attitude about this little episode.

Carla
PS Please don't let your hens know about your posting; it may hurt their feelings. shhhhhhh ......

 

[coffeelady3]

You know, when I say them I was pretty amazed that your garden was intact! I guess it was only a matter of time.

btw-both girls jumped up on my lap this evening. I felt so special! It must have been the wax worms.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Like I say, Dena, I was feeling smug about it! lol Serves me right.

DBF wound up with 4 chicks on him tonight: 2 on an arm, 1 on his head & another on his shoulder - all of their own volition! Tribble was the last one to jump on his thigh. Pretty funny stuff. She makes these funny noises & I imagine her talking to the others:

Fret fret fret fret fret ... we shouldn't be doing this...fret fret fret fret... get off of there... ooohhhh fret fret fret​

 

[Riparian]

Quote:
Thats probably because they havent figured out that they are tasty as well

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Just think of the healthy eggs you will get in return!!! LOL!! It's funny and not funny and I keep an eagle eye on my little hooligans when they are out just so they DON"T discover my garden!!! Sorry about that!

 

[JennsPeeps]

If you look closely it's like a before & after. Jalapenos on the left... GONE... sweet peppers on the right... being saved for the next day.

 

[coffeelady3]

You got that run finished yet?