Free choice or not?

[flyingdragon]

I have 12 laying hens that share a run with 17 guineas. I let my guineas out to range all day. Can I wait to feed my hens after the guineas are out and take it up when they are back? I'm am switching to organic and want to save $$ where possible. They all get BOSS in the evening. Or do I need to separate them permanently? I free ranged my chicks until they started scratching in my flower beds. Any hints on how to keep them out?

 

[detali]

The only way to keep the chickens out of anything is to fence it off
I don't have any suggestions for your other concern.

 

[heerchickchick]

yeah i am about ready to keep my chickens up as well.. they have 5 acres of range with wooded areas and open pasture..and they still pick on my flower beds..

i wish there was a solution besides fencing in or not letting my chicks roam..oh well maybe one day someone will come up with something.. How r the guinea hens with ur flower beds do they leave them alone? im thinking of getting some..

 

[the4heathernsmom]

Guineas are awful on the beds !!!!! UGhhhh we got 12 of them when they were chicks ohhh how cute, how sweet!! Yep let them out after reaching full grown size.....how sweet they still come when you call them to feed them. Great on the bugs. Got a new roof, where do they roost yep on top of the new roof in the trees above so they were pooing on it!!! ok so finally get them to stop roosting there and in the back trees instead. Soooo no blinds on the back windows, tv comes on guineas yell and cackle, kids move around, lights off and on, guineas yell and cackle ALL evening. Not always a bad thing, good alarm system. BUT time for fall flowers, nope nothing survived they scratched and pecked and pulled it all up. Put in the mulch well out it goes again thanks guineas. I drew the line when I put in the garden and worked and worked with a broken leg and ankle and everything I put in well they decide to take it out and scratch it and peck it do death. So long story short guineas were relocated except for 2 which now stay distant. I would NOT let free range go on with guineas if you have flower beds or a garden!!!

 

[dianneS]

I have black landscape plastic and brand new mulch in my flower beds. The chickens seem to leave it alone. I don't know if they are put off by the smell of the mulch, or if its because of the plastic underneath, but I have no problems with them in my landscaping. Only the unmulched areas are where they scratch.

 

[laughaha]

If it's just the scratching/digging that's the problem, lay down chicken wire on your bed and then cover with mulch once your plants come up through the chicken wire. Works great for asparagus beds, etc. The just rake the mulch back on the bed whenever it gets tossed off. You could also make wire collars for your individual plants so the animals can't dig them up. Again hide with mulch. This will obviously not work if they want to eat the entire plant.