Do your hens dig like crazy?

[vtgold]

I recently acquired 8 birds (mostly Rhode Island Reds) from a friend, and built a 12x8 outdoor run attached to my old barn. The ground was pretty soft b/c i graded it smooth with the tractor. I strung chicken wire around the run, but within a day, the birds had dug a 6-8" trench around the fence, presumably while scratching for bugs/weeds. I filled the trench back in but they dug it out again! I'm worried they are going to dig a hole they through which they can escape, and my dog is a confirmed chicken-killer so I don't want a bloodbath in the backyard. Does anyone else have birds that dig like this? I had no idea they dig this much. Any suggestions on preventing an escape? Seems like if i bury the fence they'll just dig down enough to get under it. Thanks!

 

[Critter Crazy]

Are they just digging an area to dust bath in Maybe??

 

[webdawg]

Before you fill in the holes next time, put some chicken wire in those areas and cover with dirt. They will stop.

 

[Poison Ivy]

I laid fence posts along the bottom of my fence line inside & outside the run. Mine were doing the same thing.

 

[lexa]

We have free ranging chickens over about an acre of property. Our whole place is pitted with holes about 3-4 inches deep and a foot across. It looks like the surface of the moon! When our coop goes up and our run is enclosed I'll be digging the welded wire and chicken wire into the ground by at least 10 inches and I may even put some tin around the bottom. These guys are determined diggers!

 

[vtgold]

Thanks for all the replies... glad to know I'm not alone. I decided to put their digging to use. I fenced in a 10x10 plot that I was planning to use for a vegetable garden this summer. I put the birds in there this morning and they have almost cleared the plot of grass already. THat'll save me hours of weeding. Good work, ladies.

 

[Whirlwind]

vtgold wrote:

I decided to put their digging to use. I fenced in a 10x10 plot that I was planning to use for a vegetable garden this summer. I put the birds in there this morning and they have almost cleared the plot of grass already. THat'll save me hours of weeding. Good work, ladies.

That is an super idea. Was thinking of expanding garden and the grass is so hard to get rid of and so much work. Think I will try that myself. My DH already calls them natures rototillers. lol​

 

[hencackle]

csguinn...my garden is clay soil and the chickens pack the surface so hard it resembles concrete. The lawn is pockmarked with a few holes that I need to fill in and re-seed. My neighbors have the same problem with their lawns too--from their dogs.
Stephanie

 

[2mnypets]

Quote:
Wish I had thought about that before now. The garden is growing really well, but UUUGGGG THE WEEDS!

Too bad you can't teach them to be discriminate eaters

 

[Whirlwind]

hencackle... thanks. Never thought of that either.