Chickens in my garden... I'm going nuts!

[Triona]

Hello I have 6 ladies and one rooster, they've been in my care for the last two years while my Father is in Afghanistan/Tajikistan. They have a lovely coop, a large fenced "yard" that opens on to an even larger (unused, there were goats up until a few months ago) fenced paddock... but they're "free range" as I've been 100% unsuccessful in wing-clipping. (I'm a single mom & just catching them is a spectacle!)
This year I put in 10 raised beds, I was so excited to have a tidy garden close to the house... the chickens have turned it into a disaster of bird netting, pulled out plants, half dead plants, dug-up beds & and holes. The area is surrounded by a 6ft fence, but the chickens fly right over... they peck and scratch through the bird netting... scratching it down if they can. They decimated my pea crop, have eaten every bit of lettuce, kale, nasturtium and chard... most of the "un-eaten" plants have been replanted multiple times after being uprooted :/ in addition to the netting I have tried "forking" the beds with hundreds of forks sticking out of the beds... lol, all that did was look goofy. They carefully plowed them over. This morning I spent several hours replacing and swearing at the minimally effective bird netting (nasty stuff), only to realize that the reason the chickens weren't pestering me... was because I had left the door open and they were hanging in the house. lol, my 5yr old daughter woke up to a kitchen full of chickens, & came outside with the most "peculiar" look on her face... had a good laugh at that one

Anyhow, I'm about to throttle these chickens... I've worked so hard to put in these beds & then a garden... & it's only current use is as a chicken buffet. Is there any way to keep them from decimating my plants?

Thanks so much for any advice!
Triona

 

[BrittBergh]

If they are flying right over the fencing then maybe putting a topping on their run and enclose them fully would be the solution. I had mine free ranging until they decided the gardens were buffets and then they were run only chickens with few exceptions. Luckily they do not fly over the fence yet....but if that day comes they will have a fully enclosed coop and run. I enjoy eating the spoils of my gardens not watching them enjoy eating it all!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Since chickens love vegetable gardens, we use fencing. Have to. We grow vegetables for market, so no choice. None whatsoever. We love both our gardens and our birds, so the most peaceful way of co-existence is to keep them absolutely separated. The poly deer fencing also keeps the deer out, of course, which is equally important.

 

[BrittBergh]

Since chickens love vegetable gardens, we use fencing. Have to. We grow vegetables for market, so no choice. None whatsoever. We love both our gardens and our birds, so the most peaceful way of co-existence is to keep them absolutely separated. The poly deer fencing also keeps the deer out, of course, which is equally important.

Your garden makes me jealous! I llike the tall fencing...

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Hello I have 6 ladies and one rooster, they've been in my care for the last two years while my Father is in Afghanistan/Tajikistan. They have a lovely coop, a large fenced "yard" that opens on to an even larger (unused, there were goats up until a few months ago) fenced paddock... but they're "free range" as I've been 100% unsuccessful in wing-clipping. (I'm a single mom & just catching them is a spectacle!)
This year I put in 10 raised beds, I was so excited to have a tidy garden close to the house... the chickens have turned it into a disaster of bird netting, pulled out plants, half dead plants, dug-up beds & and holes. The area is surrounded by a 6ft fence, but the chickens fly right over... they peck and scratch through the bird netting... scratching it down if they can. They decimated my pea crop, have eaten every bit of lettuce, kale, nasturtium and chard... most of the "un-eaten" plants have been replanted multiple times after being uprooted :/ in addition to the netting I have tried "forking" the beds with hundreds of forks sticking out of the beds... lol, all that did was look goofy. They carefully plowed them over. This morning I spent several hours replacing and swearing at the minimally effective bird netting (nasty stuff), only to realize that the reason the chickens weren't pestering me... was because I had left the door open and they were hanging in the house. lol, my 5yr old daughter woke up to a kitchen full of chickens, & came outside with the most "peculiar" look on her face... had a good laugh at that one

Anyhow, I'm about to throttle these chickens... I've worked so hard to put in these beds & then a garden... & it's only current use is as a chicken buffet. Is there any way to keep them from decimating my plants?

Thanks so much for any advice!
Triona

Do they roost at night? Go in to clip their wings at night. They won't even budge from the roost while you grab them.