Free ranging & flower beds

[thegoodlife1961]

I'm getting my first chicks this week. Once they are fully feathered & moved into their coop, I had planned to let them out each afternoon till dusk to free range. Then, I got to thinking of my flower beds! Do chickens eat flowers?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

They will eat everything. Mine really like flowers. When I first got my pullets and spring came I saw purple poop and thought OMG they are dying! But, they had just eaten all of my purple flowers. Oops. They also scratch and dig a lot. If you have landscaping you want to stay pretty I would put up some sort of fence or or netting or barrier.

 

[chickencowranch]

I put a fence around my flowerbeds this year. My flock destroyed mine. I should have known better. I planted perannials so i wouldn't have to buy flowers each year. I have to start over again.

 

[HeatherEmme]

I have 4 holly bushes that I will have to keep mine away from when we free range, so I'll just fashion a fence around those bushes. As the PP said, you could do the same for your flowers.

 

[PSJ]

They will destroy your flowers if you don't do something about it. Not only eat them, but dig them up. If you dont want to fence in, and just have a few flower beds, I would try some netting. Maybe throw it over the beds when you let the chickens out and then take it back off when you put them up.?

 

[thegoodlife1961]

Thanks everyone! Guess I'll have to do some quick thinking /planning on what to do before they get feathered out, which from what I hear won't take very long. My problem will need a solution before I know it! But, at least I am now forewarned & can prevent loss or damage in my flower beds before it happens. Thanks!