How to keep chickens off patio?

[dclark6623]

I have 8 chickens that I let free range every day. I have 4 acres, but my chickens want to stay on my patio / carport. My wife hates the mess. Does anyone know how to stop them from getting on the patio? I can't fence it because it is where we park our cars.

 

[BeckyLa]

I'd love to hear some ideas on this one as I have the same problem.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Make them their OWN patio and encourage them to use it by placing feeders and such there (I would however make it with pavers or cement etc.) ... I encourage my birds to use my patio (cement pavers) as it is easier to clean and I do not have to worry about grains getting moldy in the grass ... nor their poopies building up in my yard (>also easier to SEE and control the health of the bird because you can see the poos better on cement< )

 

[tricia]

You could always have your mother-in-law come over unexpectedly (just before you are expecting company), throw a FIT because you dare 'allow' chickens on the porch ("I will NOT have my grandchildren being the first in the country with avian flu!") and then stand on the porch, crying because a chicken pooped just an hour before and I hadn't cleaned it yet, with a hose in hand and yelling and screaming at the chickens when they come within 50 feet of the house!

You'll have to have her come every few days though because they come right back!

Actually, if anyone has a realistic idea, I would be very interested to hear something that would work.

Tricia

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Good luck...

I had 50 free range turkeys this summer, and they keep the chickens off the back porch, they took it all up themselves! LOL What a mess, anyway I found the most effective way was every time they got settled in I went out there with a platic garbage bag full of air and spooked them off. After a bit it seemed not so worth while to be there and they came much less often, but did not totally stop coming.

If they have shade and quiet of their own I agree, it might work better. It was hot and dry and the back porch was a heaven of cool shade, I could hardly blame them, but the barn was nice too, so I kept scooting them that direction.

 

[ChrisnTiff]

I'll tell you what not to do. Do not give your favorite chicken a cracker when she walks up to the patio door on the back deck. She apparently can let everyone know that crackers are available on the deck the next day. Having 30 chickens and a trio of bronze turkeys hanging out on your deck is a mess and makes for an angry spouse....

Chris

 

[Nifty-Chicken]

Quote:
Duly noted!!! My daughter just started feeding our girls cheerios out the back sliding glass door. Now we constantly hear peck peck peck on the glass door and a see a bunch of hungry beaks and... um... piles of "used cheerios".

 

[DuckLady]

HA hahaha! "used Cheerios"!

I like them coming on the patio. My sewing machine is set on a table in the dining room overlooking the back.
The companionship through the window is worth hubby getting out there with a power washer anytime 1) I nag him to do it and 2) he can't BBQ and keep his shoes clean. Heehee. I don't power wash because he is afraid I won't do it right and I'll break the washer. I merely hint about using it as in "How does it work?" and he is out there "showing" me how to use while I go back in the house.

BTW, a snow shovel works great at scraping the worst of it off.

 

[jimnjay]

Terri, You crack me up. Seems you have DH's number. I am going to have to take lessons. LOL]

 

[llineb]

i was wondering if one of those motion barking dog alarms would work. we have the same problem with our 18 chickens and the mess is soooo gross. the kids can't even play on the porch without getting poop on their shoes. i caught them picking it up and throwing it over the rail. it's been cold so the poop is hard. it won't be long until it is warm and smells. i was thinking of buying one of these alarms on ebay and putting a kennel outside with it on top. i know last time we had company and they kept their dog on our porch, i didn't see our chickens for 5 days after they were gone. does anyone know if one of the fake garden owls would work? i tried fake snakes and saw the chickens walking all over them....it would be nice to have my porch back and be able to walk barefoot!
lara