How do you keep chickens out of a flower garden?

[dmdhart]

Other than a fence, is there anything that will deter my lovely free range chickens from digging up my flower gardens?
I'll try almost anything.

 

[newchickmom09]

Nope. I think the only thing you can do is put up a fence. I have fences around all of my smaller plants that I like to look at because those darn chickens and ducks that I have can really do a number on small plants.

 

[silkydragon]

lol im gonna watch this thread too because mine have been eating my moms hastas which i thought where poisonous to chickens but it dosnt affect mine at all (no matter how much my mom wishes it dos) they have 1 group of hastas eatin all the way down to the dirt and leave all the other plants alone

 

[kfchickenlady]

I am watching this too, because I have camelias and azaleas which are poisonous to animals, dont know about chickens. Do they like roses as much as every other domestic animal???

 

[newchickmom09]

Chickens will peck and try ANYTHING. I think for the most part they will stear clear of the poisonous plants, they seems to have a good sence for what is good for them and what is not. But some don't so keep an eye on them if you do have poisonous plants around. Roses are fair game for chickens. Don't put pestisides/fertilizers on anything they can get to.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Someone a while back posted pics of their flower garden surrounded by a picket fence. Apparently the chickens cannot rest on the pickets.

 

[joedie]

I put up a fence around the garden because they WILL ruin it if they get in there. I used the steel T posts and tied the orange safety fence onto the posts with those little plastic zip ties. Really easy and although its only 4 ft hig, the chickens don't even try to fly over or go under it. I did secure the bottom with garden staples in case they tried to slide in underneath. I also just used an old pallet for the entrance door and covered it with chicken wire and ited on with bungees. Opens easily. Built it with my 9 yo grandson in about 30 mins and the garden is 60x50 ft so really easy!

 

[rancher hicks]

I doubt chickens know what poisonous, since I've seen xrays of one that swallowed a 1" wood screw. I do know they ate my tomato plants and they are a member of the nightshade family. While they didn't seem to devour the plant they ate every tomato they could jump high enough to eat.
They left the beans alone and the Lemon balm.
Have you googled this question?
I put fencing around my vegetable garden and had to reinforce the parts they figured out how to get in through. Funny they can never remember how to get out when I chase them. One even tore herself, as I've use rustic branch fencing with pointy ends. I should post pics.
Hold on. Here ya go. There is 2' chicken wire along the bottom, but you get the idea. I have read that some breeds are less scratchy than others and that breeds with feathered feet are less so. Also that it may help to bury hardware cloth just under the surface.

 

[flockof4]

Fences are the best bet.