Help my chickens won't stop digging

[njennings25]

I like letting the chickens roam the back yard, but they insist on digging in my garden beds. I have designated ares for digger which they like, but they also like my garden beds. Can I put something on the soil/mulch that would discourage them? Like maybe sprinkling pepper where I don't want them.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

with chickens you really have to fence them in or out. You can contain the birds or contain the areas you don't want them in.

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! Ditto what Ol Grey Mare said.

 

[njennings25]

with chickens you really have to fence them in or out. You can contain the birds or contain the areas you don't want them in.

I was really hoping for another choice. I want the chickens to wonder, but I don't like the look of fences everywhere.

 

[casportpony]

I feel your pain.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You might get away with decent sized rock on the beds that would still allow water to get through to the soil, but this may not be any better than fences everywhere given the size that would deter chickens and may not be cost effective depending on the area to be covered

 

[lazy gardener]

Fence birds in or fence them out. You could lay wire horizontally over the beds at the BEGINNING of the growing season. They will dig where ever and when ever they want, and they prefer to do their digging exactly where you don't want them to. Deer netting is nearly invisible. A 7' wide roll can be cut in half with scissors to yield 2 x 3.5' rolls. It works great for fencing in garden beds. I use it for flowers, veggies, and in the orchard.

 

[aart]

I was really hoping for another choice. I want the chickens to wonder, but I don't like the look of fences everywhere.

Another 'Romance meets Reality' scenario.
Sorry, the fence them in or fence them out is pretty standard.
Some folks use a motion activated sprinkler like the 'scarecrow'.
The almost invisible deer fence netting is probably the best choice,
you can use attractive posts and low enough for humans to step over if needed.

My birds are confined but even the the digging can be problematic:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/excavation-by-birds-a-word-of-warning.1086535/