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Chickens and gardens input PLEASE

Discussion in 'Managing Your Flock' started by jarasz, Feb 12, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Feb 12, 2008 #1
    jarasz

    jarasz In the Brooder

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    Feb 5, 2008
    Hi
    I made a post about a week ago on how to keep chickens out of flower beds and found out that no body has been able to keep their free range friends out of their flower beds. So I was thinking we could make a list of flowers and herb they like to eat and ones they don't. For all of us with dual loves being chickens and gardening.

    I'm in the top panhadle of Florida and this is what I have found.

    My chickens love to eat:
    Yarrow
    creeping jenny
    and lots of flowers I don't know the name of sorry

    They don't eat:
    Gardenia
    lantana
    rosemary
    oregano
    Irisis

    I will list more as I find out. Please everyone lets make a list and then the garden people can have their free range chickens and flowers.

    Thanks ![​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 12, 2008
  2. Feb 12, 2008 #2
    hypnofrogstevie

    hypnofrogstevie chick magnet

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    Jul 12, 2007
    Newton NJ
  3. Feb 12, 2008 #3
    silkiechicken

    silkiechicken Staff PhD Premium Member

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    Jan 25, 2007
    Everett WA/Corvallis OR
    Good luck keeping the plants in the soil! I find if I don't fence off the garden, they eat the good stuff, and scratch up and dust bath in all the bad stuff. [​IMG]
     
  4. Feb 12, 2008 #4
    TommyVT05

    TommyVT05 Songster

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    Feb 6, 2008
    Southern California
    I didn't join until recently, but yeah, in the past, the best way to keep them out of anything that you don't like them to be in, just simply, throw chicken wire over what you want to cover is good enough. I only use 3 feet high chicken wire and its good enough.

    I have bantams too and they fly really high but since its there, I guess they are too lazy to do so anyhow. Haha
     
  5. Feb 12, 2008 #5
    hypnofrogstevie

    hypnofrogstevie chick magnet

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    Jul 12, 2007
    Newton NJ
    I thought of something. Maybe you could plant a peach tree or something in there run. That way they cant tear it down and when peaches fall they can eat them. Also the pit is to big for them to swallow. Or how about blueberry bushes or raspberry bushes?
     
  6. Feb 12, 2008 #6
    silkiechicken

    silkiechicken Staff PhD Premium Member

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    Jan 25, 2007
    Everett WA/Corvallis OR
    *insert drool face*

    Blueberries and raspberries are soo good! They should be able to dig up deep rooted stuff like that. Be sure to wrap it in bird netting when fruiting time comes, or anything in bird reach will be gone.
     
  7. Feb 12, 2008 #7
    SeaChick

    SeaChick Songster

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    Apr 25, 2007
    Southern Maine
    There have been a few threads on this subject. It's interesting because some plants are shunned by one person's chickens but devoured by anothers. Like hosta: mine LOVE it but someone else's avoided theirs...

    Some ideas I got from a previous thread (things they might NOT EAT according to other gardeners:)
    Daylilies
    Mint
    Nepeta/catmint
    Sunflower
    Helianthus/Jerusalem Artichoke
    Arundo (giant reed)
    Miscanthus
    Yarrow
    Lamon Balm

    I would love to hear others' input (especially from northern areas and plants that do well in shady areas that they won't eat!)

    Stacey
     
  8. Feb 12, 2008 #8
    hypnofrogstevie

    hypnofrogstevie chick magnet

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    Jul 12, 2007
    Newton NJ
    Quote:LOL I see you love raspberries. I have a HUGE bush of blackberries I am going to try and transplant. The bush is over 30 feet in lenth and 10 feet wide
     
  9. Feb 12, 2008 #9
    Kaneke

    Kaneke Songster

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    Jan 9, 2008
    between Yelm and McKenna
    mine free range and this is what they don't seem to touch:

    nasturtiums
    basil
    spearmint
    spider plant
    ginger
    tomato
    oxalis
    castor bean
    monstera/philodendron



    mostly they chomp on the weeds !

    spanish needle
    dandelion
    spurge
    grass of all sorts
    bamboo
    spiny amaranth


    sometimes eat clover, sometimes ignore it
     

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