How to discourage hens from tearing up my flower bed with bark mulch.

[rocking2r]

My free range chickens LOVE to scratch around in my flower bed with bark mulch. They throw it out of the bed, and into the porch. It’s a terrible mess ! Can I put something in the bed that will stop this behavior? Maybe something like Sevin? Or something that is safe that will drive the chickens away. I don’t want to encourage my dog to chase them out because that could end up badly.

 

[MarkJr]

Watching this..... I have one flower bed in particular they are exposing roots and killing plants.
Rest of them I really don’t care. Junipers, ferns, bulbs of various sorts, azaleas and rhododendrons...... all very much so mature enough to handle some digging/scratching. Only thing they are actually staying away from is the fuchsias

 

[rocking2r]

I wish I could plant fuchsias then, but they won’t grow as perennials in our climate. They would be expensive to plant as annuals.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I don’t mean to be rude, but, I couldn’t help laughing! Nothing will stop my girls from digging in fresh dirt, sand, or mulch! Nothing, No. Thing.

The only thing I can suggest is not adding mulch next year so you don’t have as big a mess.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Some folks have had luck with motion detection sprinklers, but if that's not an option you either gotta fence them in or fence them out.

Sevin does nothing but kill bugs, it won't deter chickens.

 

[Yardfulla poopers]

Decorative fence? Never mind, they will just jump it. Perhaps one of those motion sensor sprinklers.

 

[MarkJr]

Didn’t figure as much.

The plants I placed are fairly deep rooted. Just trying to get them a good foot hold.

I’ll keep kicking the dirt back up around them. If they make it, they make it.

 

[rocking2r]

Decorative fence? Never mind, they will just jump it. Perhaps one of those motion sensor sprinklers.

Those motion sensors sound like a good idea. I’ll look into that. Thanks!

I wish I could plant fuchsias then, but they won’t grow as perennials in our climate. They would be expensive to plant as annuals.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I fence my chickens out of anything I don't want them to have access to. I tell people I used to have a garden, but now I have chickens, lol. Sorry I don't have better advice for you. Is Sevin safe for chickens?

 

[rocking2r]

I keep thinking there MUST be some kind of plant that repels them. I like the idea of the motion sensor sprinkler but they are pretty costly. So Maybe just setting a regular sprinkler up and using it on the days they are out may be what I need to do