Determined Digger Chickens

[TheFluffyButt]

Hey Chickeroos,

I have a major problem with my flock of chickens.
When I say flock, I really mean 6 hens.

They just can't get enough of digging the life out of their run!
They have dug so many holes in the ground and they flick the dirt through the fence, so I'm losing soil and I'm not sure what to do!

I could fill the land out with more soil, but they'll just keep on digging it up!

I was thinking of filling the land with sand, maybe this would have a different affect, but I'm not sure...
Does anyone have any experience with using sand in their chickens roaming space;

Has anyone used something to fill the gaps in their neighbors fence to prevent the dirt from being lost;
I should really fix the gap between the fence that allows the dirt to fall through, but I'm not too sure how to go about this, since I already have a guard that prevents loss of dirt, but the chickens are still able to flick the dirt over this guard, cheeky girls.

I've discovered that gravel doesn't stop these hens, as they have found that digging all the rocks out of my flower beds is actually pretty fun!

I'm at a serious loss of what to do and I don't want to add bricks or remove their dust bath spots, that's inchickane.

Here are some pictures just so you can see what we're dealing with:

Do you see their cute little footprints;;

Hectic.

 

[Chickens are the best]

My chickens are doing this too! there are several basins in their run where they dig and lay. My best idea to keep the dirt in is to put a strip of tarp about a 1 foot or so high so they can't kick it out.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

My chickens are currently digging as well. I think the only thing stopping them from digging out of the run is that it's frozen ground. So, the only thing they are actually digging is pine shavings.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Doing a form of litter should help satisfy their urge to dig a little more. My birds kick the litter everywhere but stop once they hit the bare ground (and I push it back, and they kick it around again). It'll also help with the bit of flooding you have going on the last photo. Wood chips, dried leaves, dried grass, whatever you have available... just toss it all in there.

 

[Mr Pink]

Doing a form of litter should help satisfy their urge to dig a little more. My birds kick the litter everywhere but stop once they hit the bare ground (and I push it back, and they kick it around again). It'll also help with the bit of flooding you have going on the last photo. Wood chips, dried leaves, dried grass, whatever you have available... just toss it all in there.

THIS ^^^

Helps with the muddy mess bare wet ground leaves also

 

[junebuggena]

It's normal chicken behavior. They scratch through the soil in search of yummy bugs to snack on. Giving them other mediums to scratch through will help reduce the impact they are having on the fence line.

 

[Folly's place]

Yes, it's a mess! Fix your drainage problem, so there's no more standing water out there. Deep litter is best, so bagged shavings, wood chips, leaves, grass clippings; non-toxic plant materials. The birds will have fun digging and mix it all up, and make nice compost over time.
Mary