Chickens not doing a good job of clearing area

[Ladyxxmacbeth]

Hello. I'm new to chicken owning. I got them to scratch up the ground in a large area I have at the bottom of the garden. How long do you lovely people think this might take?. They are doing a pretty bad job of it at the moment. I was told (maybe erroneously) that chickens would destroy my garden. Well they aren't. There's lots of couch grass I want them to eat and small weeds I would like them to scratch up. I'm worried come spring that the weeds will become overgrown and I'll have to clear them another way.

 

[Oolala]

Hello. I'm new to chicken owning. I got them to scratch up the ground in a large area I have at the bottom of the garden. How long do you lovely people think this might take?. They are doing a pretty bad job of it at the moment. I was told (maybe erroneously) that chickens would destroy my garden. Well they aren't. There's lots of couch grass I want them to eat and small weeds I would like them to scratch up. I'm worried come spring that the weeds will become overgrown and I'll have to clear them another way.

Depends how long you have had them, once they find an area they like they do t leave it alone, mine make straight for the same patch under a large conifer when I let them out, have given up trying to re grass it now, also, they turn my compost area over a treat where I dump grass cuttings and leaves and also the veg plot gets turned over at the end of the season, best helpers I ever had in the garden, apart from when I try to plant flowers

 

[Ladyxxmacbeth]

Funnily enough my chickens favourite spot is in the corner under the conifer too.

 

[chrissynemetz]

It also can depend on the number of chickens, the amount of space they're in, and their breeds.
If I have a particular area I want my flock to dig around in I'll toss a handful of scratch out there, that usually gets them all going.

 

[Hei 20]

Hello. I'm new to chicken owning. I got them to scratch up the ground in a large area I have at the bottom of the garden. How long do you lovely people think this might take?. They are doing a pretty bad job of it at the moment. I was told (maybe erroneously) that chickens would destroy my garden. Well they aren't. There's lots of couch grass I want them to eat and small weeds I would like them to scratch up. I'm worried come spring that the weeds will become overgrown and I'll have to clear them another way.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I know with mine they wander off the area I am hoping they will work on.
Nothing brings them back faster than loosening the soil with my spade fork.

 

[black_cat]

I know with mine they wander off the area I am hoping they will work on.
Nothing brings them back faster than loosening the soil with my spade fork.

Mine love the sound of digging as well- when we were leveling for the new coop they would always run over and be like 'i'm helping!!!!!!!!!!!!'

 

[3KillerBs]

Can you pen them into the specific area you want them to work in smaller sections so that they can't pick and choose what they like best?

 

[aart]

I got them to scratch up the ground in a large area I have at the bottom of the garden.

Vegetable garden or general 'yard' area?
Pics might help here.
Some plants are too deeply rooted for chicken to kill, and some plants are palatable for chickens to eat. Thinks couch grass is one that will no succumb to chickens.

Oh, and..... Welcome to BYC! @Ladyxxmacbeth
Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
It's easy to do, and then it's always there!

 

[Oolala]

Funnily enough my chickens favourite spot is in the corner under the conifer too.

I think the pine needles compost on the ground underneath making it easy to scratch