How do I keep my chickens out of the mulch?

[PeckNOrder]

My free range chickens have discovered the mulch around my shrubs. It is amazing how far chickens can sling that stuff!! I am constantly raking it back in place. Is there something I can put on the mulch to keep the chickens away?

 

[12 Acres]

Yes. Meet my new best friend .

 

[newchickenfamily]

hehe. My nightly routine consists of sweeping all of the black bark mulch back into the planter beds. I think I like Amy's "new best friend" idea. Thanks for that!

 

[Mahonri]

I just love how much I learn here.

Thanks Amy... I may let my birds out into the yard a little more now.

 

[cmom]

I had to fence in an area for the chickens as they would get into the beds and tear up everything. They would get in my mulch pile and spread it all over and I was out raking it all back in a pile daily. It was either fence in the beds or the chickens. My garden is 12 beds, 6 ft x 21 ft. and some are 8 ft x 21 ft. Also I have one that is 50 ft x 300 ft., I grow alot of stuff.

 

[kmom246]

Ha! I'm going to try this over the compost pile! I let the chickies out in the garden from time to time and in about 5 seconds, they have the whole compost pile turned over - which is good - but turned over all over - is not so good when the people have to rake it back into a pile. Such brilliant simplicity!

 

[12 Acres]

You're all very welcome. I hope it works good for you. My birds don't even try to scratch in the areas protected with the bird netting. And I feel like I've conquered the universe!

 

[ChickaD]

Amy, thanks for such a cool and clever idea that doesn't break the bank (hmmm, what bank?)!