Flower beds and chickens....

[jenesis536]

Haha!! Love the photos!

Last year my garden was my focus... we got chickens in Oct so we haven't crossed that bridge yet, but it's something I've been wondering about, too. We are stuck to a back yard area where the chickens are next to the garden, so we're going to shoot for putting a fence around the garden and hope for the best. I'm also going to get some half wine barrels and plant some things on the other side of the house in those.

We have had them free-ranging within the same area as the garden for the past few months... I've blocked off the artichocke plant because they love it... they stay away from the beets, snow peas and spinach that is left, but I always find them in the carrots. I have a bunch and they haven't gone crazy on them, so for now I'm fine with letting them do what they want. When I pull everything and replant for summer, I'll be more careful.

Try to provide them an area with as much of the left overs, greens and stuff they can eat and dig around in, and they won't focus as much on the garden. It's worked pretty well so far.

Quote:
<-----follows the same plan.

Here's what happened to potted plants.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41679_delilahorangetree.jpg

That WAS an orange tree.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/41679_blissinapot.jpg

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thanks All!!

I needed the info more for my neighbors flower bed than for myself. Our chickens don't bother our garden much at all. We live on 32 acres, the chickens free range on about 2, but the first thing every morning since it has warmed up here in sw ohio, about 6 of them hi-tail it over to my neighbor that lives across the lot from us. Now she loves my chickens.

They take care of them when we are away. She takes pics of them and they don't bother much of anything EXCEPT her one flower bed. We were trying to figure out something she could do to keep them out of it.

We considered rubber snakes, a plastic owl, whirligigs. I just was interested if these ever worked for anyone. We have 3' electrified chicken netting we are using now. It was not for the intention of keeping our chickens in, but to keep varmits out. It has worked great! Last year we purchased a 4' electric fence. I guess we will probably have to start to use this and enclose them in for the summer.

They do love being out.

 

[calicokat]

I'm in the doghouse now because the girls dug around and killed DH's 3 new blueberry plants from last summer

Heck there was even mint in between each blueberry plant - and they killed off two of those, and mint is nearly impossible to kill

So, I'll have to replace them and my plan was just a short fence, but I'm liking the large rock idea too. They like to dust bathe there because he added peat moss to the soil and it's all loose and in just the right spot for a sunny spring day dust bath!

 

[OHhappychicks]

OH NO! They sure do like to dust bath in the places you don't want them to, that's for sure!! That is what they are doing in my neighbors flower bed. They have places at home to dust bath, but noooo, they have to bath there!!

We have had a lot of rain here and it stays dry under the eves of her house where her flower bed is located, so we think that is why they have picked that particular spot.

 

[cobrien]

I would put small boulders, flat rock like flagstone, or other obstacles (I've used wooden logs) around the plants to keep them from digging and dust bathing around the flowers. You could also lay down chicken wire on top of the soil. But if they want to eat the flowers I don't know of a way to keep them out without a fence.

 

[Mattemma]

I let them go in the flower beds,and into the garden bed while I weed.Lol, you should see them running when they notice I flip the soil!

When I let them roam the yard I keep close with a bambo stick and just prod them along if they are somewhere they should not be. I put up dinky 1 foot fencing to keep them out of the garden.It is more for the dogs though who don't look where they are running,but will run around a 1 footer unless ofcourse there is *game animal* to be had!

 

[cherp68]

Last year I put a 2' chicken wire fence around my vegetable garden, I planted 2 new blueberry bushes but they were along the side of the fence & hung where the chickens could still reach up and eat the berries! But the rest of my garden was saved!
As for my flower beds, the girls did more damage to my annuals than anything, this year I may skip them or plant taller ones. The girls just love it when I'm weeding, they follow me around just waiting to snatch up any worms or bugs they see!
I have an old claw foot tub in one of my gardens and my girls love to dig in the dirt underneath it!!

 

[firsthouse_mp]

I ended up caging in all my plants.

So only things that are close to the ground or covered by wire will make it.
My alliums under wire.

Cabbages and beets that were wintersown had to be placed under cover.

It's not a great look but it works! I get to keep my chickens and have fresh flowers and veggies as long as I can deal with this ugly fencing.

 

[OHhappychicks]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

I will definately run them by my neighbor and see what she thinks. If anyone else has any more ideas, please post. I love hearing from all the different places and your imput.

 

[Chick Charm]

Wow! Someone has gone to a TON of work to protect that garden. I'm sure all your hard work will pay off. GOOD for you. I made raised garden beds with hardware cloth installed above to keep them out for the first 16'' or so of growth but it was very expensive. It did work however. You should be commended for all that work.