Chicken proofing the garden

[TXchickmum]

-would definitely keep the chickens off of the garden when the plants are just getting started (or utilize temporary fencing for the area). I definitely think the number of chickens makes a difference, as well. We have 7 standard and 2 bantam hens. The bantam gals don't cause much damage at all (with digging). The standard birds are the ones that really scratch the ground and tear at the plants. You could definitely cover the young plants with wire for a while. If you have a fairly large flock, however, fencing the area off (as suggested by the previous posters) may be the very best option for you. -and, the imited free-ranging will really make a difference on the lawn and in the garden, IMO.

 

[Fentress]

Last year was my first year and it was definetly a problem. Now that they are older it will be worse. If you could raise certain plants that they would prefer so much over the other plants you like, that they would leave them alone, maybe that would work? That is how I manage my cats, I just give them something that they like better. Of course, chickens tend to peck at everything! And the dust bathing! I will probably fence in the garden, but I don't like it, its bad energy or something, maybe just bad aesthetics. What did the old folks do? Was the yard dog trained to keep the chickens out of the garden?

 

[Hawgon]

What fence is recommended for keeping the chickens out? Would a 4 ft chainlink do it or higher?

Thanks

 

[FirewifeJess]

Any non-sturdy fencing about 4' high will do. Don't get chain link, they can fly to the top and jump down in the garden. Use chicken wire and t-posts or something similar and they shouldn't be able to jump over very easily.

 

[gryeyes]

My contractor did something I think is very clever. He built my garden fence "frame" using pipe conduit, then chicken wire as the fence material. There are T and L brackets to hold the pipe lengths together across the top conduit uprights and in the corners. Chicken wire is attached via baling wire, and the fence and two gates are five feet tall.

The chicken wire rusts and is nearly invisible from a distance, so the garden is visible from outside, instead of the fence blocking anyone's view. It only has to keep chickens out of the garden, so it's a great use for that chicken wire ya can't use for a run fence.

 

[The Chickeneer]

Thanks everyone, but what I want to do is let the chickens in the garden.....but do things that would prevent them from completely destroying everything.

Would rosebushes keep them at bay? Im thinking they probably wont like the thorns and will get ditsracteed by the red roses.

 

[TXchickmum]

We have roses around the perimeter of the back lawn. My chickens love to run behind them if anything flies overhead. They use them as a source of cover. A few of my gals fancy rose petals, and will peck off blooms from time to time. That being said, my roses are resiliant and don't suffer much damage. Our Pyracantha hedges seem to deter the chickens. They have very sharp thorns, and are full toward the ground. The chickens stay away. (Pyracantha hedges flower beautifully in the spring and produce lovely berries in the fall and winter. -nice addition to the garden.)

I think roses would help, depending upon the varieties planted. Thicker dwarf varieties that are more bushy would act as a barrier much better than taller, upright varieties that allow the chickens to wander in between/through.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I use raised beds and since I built wood sides for the mounds they don't destroy them. What works for me is to keep the chickens in run during the first month of garden growing to establish plants. Once the garden is thriving I've very little problems with them ranging in it. Unless one finds a small ant mound and starts digging to china, but that's one of the reasons we have monitored free range sessions. Believe it or not mine don't peck at the tomatoes either.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

It was the scratching and digging that completely destroyed my Fall/Winter garden...it is made up of raised beds in 4'X8' boxes and 4'x4' boxes. During the summer it wasn't too bad as the plants were large and well established and planted close enough together so that the girls were not inclined to dig. They did taste leaves now & then, which is just fine...just not the digging. I have some cool weather/early spring seedlings in right now and those boxes have chicken wire over the tops of them for now. It really is a problem and we are still struggling with a good/perfect solution. I too want them to be able to free range the areas between the boxes, but I also want the vegies. It depends on the plant as well. They completely "harvested" my small onions, but because the bell pepper plants were tall and sturdy, and planted close together, they left those alone. Lettuce, kale, cabbage & broccoli starts were not only eaten to the ground, but what was left over was dug up. I had draped frost blankets over a couple of the boxes, but the little snots figured out how to get under them if the wind blew up a corner or two. It really is a challenge.

 

[aimeeassur]

Great info! Thank you! I am planning on doing the same (I'm a newbie) and trying to to figure out the best way to do so. We have a 32'X40' fenced area that I want to incorporate my raised beds (two 4'X4' beds) with a coop for 4-5 laying hens. I'd prefer to not put them in a tractor -- although I would if that is the only way they'll stay away from my fruits/veggies. Once the garden is harvested by fall, they wil have free range over the entire thing -- I figure they will help fertilize it nicely for the following spring.