How to keep my hens out of my flower boxes on my desk

[Ilene]

Does anybody have any suggestions on how to keep my girls out of my flower boxes? They kick the dirt out, kill the flowers & make a big mess on the deck every day. The free range every day but seem to prefer the flower boxes.

 

[chicmom]

I had to cut down the free ranging time for my flock, because the same thing was going on at my house. It all started when I was weeding, and the chickens saw me and came running over. I would throw them an occasional worm. So they always followed me around in the yard.

So I came out onto the front porch one day, and there they were, eating my hostas like I had set up a salad bar for them! I couldn't plant flowers or anything that year.

Now I just let them free range after I have supper. So that's about three hours. And I don't ever let them see me working on the flowers in the front yard. Out of sight, out of mind.

So maybe you can put your flower boxes up or elevate them somehow so the ladies can't see them or eat them.....

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

You will need to block their access to the boxes - the actual approach to that would depend on the setup involved. If the boxes are on the deck, the simplest solution would be to block access to the deck (added advantage - no poopy deck)

 

[acro1010]

Not sure this will help but I will throw it in. The later in the day you let them out the shorter the distance they go from their coop.