Best way to keep chickens out of our garden?

[TheAmundsons]

I think free ranging is each individual's choice. We have 10 acres or land, and half of it is wooded. Our coop and enclosed run are on the treeline. We let our chickens and ducks free range every day, unless we have seen a predator, or signs of a predator. We let them free range when we are gone, and have yet to lose a bird (yes, we are lucky). We have them for eggs, and will cull some soon for freezer camp. We won't be heartbroken if a few end up missing, so it's a risk we choose to take. Some people prefer to know their birds are 100% (or as close as you can get) protected from predators. I think it's totally up to you! If you only want to let them free range while you are out with them, that is perfectly fine! Just know there will always be the possibility that there is something lurking in the woods waiting for a quick meal.

Best of luck with keeping them out of your garden! We just have a small garden, that they haven't seemed to bother at all. I don't know how or why! We are hoping to establish a much better garden in the next few years, and that will have protection from chickens!

 

[rosemarythyme]

View attachment 1723583

So just some posts at the corners of your boxes will allow you to string up a bit of fencing.

Mine's not as solid as this, but I do the same, just put posts of some sort in the corners and maybe in the middle for a longer bed, and wrap chicken wire, netting, etc. It's not that the chickens CAN'T go over it, but because the top of the fencing is a little hard to see and too wobbly to stand on, they're less likely to try.

And I don't free range because I don't want any losses. I did use to let them out on a side lawn while I did yardwork, but they always wandered and ended up where I don't want them (a mulched flower bed, gravel driveway, the other lawn). Had one even walk out into the pond (thankfully she came back when lured).

 

[ChickenFlamingo]

I've done the complete opposite. I've allowed them to run crazy in my garden and they have been the best gardeners ever. My garden was getting a bit overgrown and now it's actually the neatest, most weed free it's ever been.
Okay, sometimes their gardening techniques are a bit haphazard and the 'flower beds' do resemble tattie fields, but my girls are earning their keep. The grass has been pecked short, the weeds are cleared, the soil has been dug and tilled and fertilised, snails and slugs have been attacked. My more established plants, peonies and crocrosmia are shooting up, despite the chicken onslaught.
Now I just have to train my chickens to use the hedge trimmer and we'll be laughing.

 

[HopeSprings]

My first chicks will arrive in May and their coop and run will be built just outside of my vegetable garden. The garden is a 50' x 60' enclosed area. The fencing is 3' high "critter guard" welded wire. The lower portion is a finer mesh to keep the varmints out. I am hoping that it will keep my free-rangers out, too! They'll have plenty of space to roam (at least a couple of acres of clear land), so I'm hoping they won't have a need to scale the fence!

 

[feathermaid]

Basically there is no easy solution for any chicken keeping, it's all trial and error and figuring out what works in your situation, and whether you're willing to take risks and accept losses... either the chickens or your garden plants.

Loose chickens are always at risk for predator attacks. I've heard of foxes or hawks being so bold and taking birds right in front of people as they were supervising. Stray dogs are among the most dangerous attackers and will break through chicken wire or any netting. Electric fencing is probably the most effective deterrent, for both predators and keeping chickens contained.

I'm in the suburbs surrounded by 6' fencing so I don't see many predators. My girls have their coop and run and their own fenced yard with no vegetation. I'll let them in my backyard all day after my plants have died down in fall and winter, but I have to give them very limited access in spring and summer. Otherwise...

they take over everything.

before: after:

They also enjoy scissoring all the leaves off my favorite coral bells, scratching my ornamental grasses, groundcovers and most flowers down to the dirt, and plucking ripe (or unripe) blueberries, strawberries and tomatoes. Every other available veggie gets pecked or half eaten and my bark mulch, gravel and river rocks get nicely all mixed together. And I only have 4 chickens! Now I don't know if that's the cost of free bug control, or if they just enjoy destroying stuff. It may be in the eye of the beholder.

I'm still figuring out how to save my tender plants and let them loose as often as possible, as they can do a lot of damage in a short time. But they have plenty of space in their own yard and I always toss weeds, grass clippings and other scraps in the compost bin, which is also in their area. I think they find enough bugs and worms in the compost and also by digging through the deep mulch in their yard.

I thinks it just depends how tidy you want to keep your garden space, and how concerned you are about predators. Good luck!

 

[DebRC]

Every time I take treats out to my chickens I call them (Here chickie chickies). They now know my voice and when I start calling, they all come running. They will follow me to the spot where I usually give them treats. (My chickens free range all day, but I do treats away from the house because I don’t want chickens running up on my porch every time I leave the house.) Anyway, my point is that if you give them treats in their coop, they will learn to run to their coop every time you start calling them. You can lock them up at that time.

 

[Chicklet2]

I had to fence my garden. The chickens totally destroyed it. Even after it was initially fenced, I had to raise the fence as a couple flew over it. Last year they destroyed the garlic and onions. They not only peck at the plants, but scratch around and take dirt baths in the garden spots. It only takes one to get in and really cause some damage.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Basically there is no easy solution for any chicken keeping, it's all trial and error and figuring out what works in your situation, and whether you're willing to take risks and accept losses... either the chickens or your garden plants.

Loose chickens are always at risk for predator attacks. I've heard of foxes or hawks being so bold and taking birds right in front of people as they were supervising. Stray dogs are among the most dangerous attackers and will break through chicken wire or any netting. Electric fencing is probably the most effective deterrent, for both predators and keeping chickens contained.

I'm in the suburbs surrounded by 6' fencing so I don't see many predators. My girls have their coop and run and their own fenced yard with no vegetation. I'll let them in my backyard all day after my plants have died down in fall and winter, but I have to give them very limited access in spring and summer. Otherwise...
View attachment 1727279
they take over everything.

before:View attachment 1727273 after:View attachment 1727274

They also enjoy scissoring all the leaves off my favorite coral bells, scratching my ornamental grasses, groundcovers and most flowers down to the dirt, and plucking ripe (or unripe) blueberries, strawberries and tomatoes. Every other available veggie gets pecked or half eaten and my bark mulch, gravel and river rocks get nicely all mixed together. And I only have 4 chickens! Now I don't know if that's the cost of free bug control, or if they just enjoy destroying stuff. It may be in the eye of the beholder.

I'm still figuring out how to save my tender plants and let them loose as often as possible, as they can do a lot of damage in a short time. But they have plenty of space in their own yard and I always toss weeds, grass clippings and other scraps in the compost bin, which is also in their area. I think they find enough bugs and worms in the compost and also by digging through the deep mulch in their yard.

I thinks it just depends how tidy you want to keep your garden space, and how concerned you are about predators. Good luck!

This is what I experience. I have not had a beautiful garden after I purchased chickens. Can't seem to keep them out no mater what I do... I am to the point where I would say- chickens... or garden...? Pick one. mine are relentless and will zero-scape everything. Even my succulents in pots. They hop my 4ft fence no prob.

 

[agale]

i found some roll out fencing like the orange soil erosion fencing but it is green. it was found at Lowes hardware and it is stiff enough so they wont go through it but I can roll it up if they arent out and I need to mow or have people over. 48" tall

 

[dunni003]

Bird netting may work as well, we had plenty of chicken wire on hand so that's what we use.

I use bird netting and it works pretty well at keeping the chickens out. It is annoying to work with, though - gets caught on everything.