chickens and vegetable gardens??

[vtsarahb]

I am planning on free-ranging my chickens when they're old enough.... will they bother with pumpkin plants? what about corn seedlings? We are trying to estimate how much fencing we'll need for our garden. Thanks!

 

[bethandjoeync]

i would imagine they would. I would but a fence around your tender plants or the whole garden if you want to spare them.

 

[purecountrychicken]

yeah,,chickens and gardens dont mix well.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

To a chicken, the whole world is its salad bowl, and underneath is its dust-bathtub. They love to peck at green growing things, especially new tender seedlings. And they love to scratch and dig in dirt with their big dinosaur feet, then lay themselves down and dust-bathe in it.

Fence the garden or the chickens.

 

[AboutSixPounds]

Yep, if you plant it, they will come (and destroy!). Fence it in. I've learned one solid truth in less than a year of keeping chickens: There's no such thing as chicken-proofing a garden. Chicken-resistant, sure, but not chicken-proof. They're tricky!

 

[vtsarahb]

Thanks everyone! I guess we'll have to go get some more fencing!

 

[n2h20]

i had about 20 corn seedlings that were about 2"s tall,, they are gone now,,, chickens hopped the fence and either scratched or pecked the corn seedlings,,, boo

 

[montcapu]

Quote:
sad for you... I am just still waiting to be able to plant anything here

 

[zatsdeb]

when you are looking at that nice tomato ripening on that vine, so pretty, and tasty looking, and then you see that your chicken has poked a big hole in not one, but many of your yummy red ripe tomato's!!!!

 

[montcapu]

Quote:
I actually inquired my delawares from a lady who could not keep them out of her garden, she ssaid they ate everything and she could not stand it, I have fencing around mine so had no problem last year