If you let your chickens in the garden...

[Chicky Tocks]

Yep. My girls ate my lillies that had just come out of the ground. They were only 3 inches tall and nommed to death.

And they'll kick all the mulch out of your flower gardens too! Mine even tore up the weed guard under the mulch!

 

[tcmstalcup]

No chickens in the garden. A gardener's organic pest control is a guenea or two. They love bugs and don't scratch. It works for me. Chickens-never.

 

[DianeB]

You can let them in at the end and beginning of the year to scratch up the ground, eat weed seeds and larvae and eggs. They will clean up the ground, till and fertilizer for you. Once things are in the ground, keep them out.

 

[Wifezilla]

Exactly Diane. I let the ducks at the garden beds BEFORE I plant and AFTER I harvest

You can make "moats" if you want them to keep between the rows clean.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/Sustainable-Farming/1988-05-01/Garden-Pest-Control.aspx

If you have money for fencing this isn't a bad idea.

 

[pulletkeeper]

I grow produce for a living in the fields surrounding our house (and chickens), it is how I pay my bills, and my biggest fear is my chickens getting out.

 

[BackyardChick12]

I would of been soo mad at that chicken! Not enough to turn it into drumsticks, but still mad. I'd get over it, after all, who can resist the face and charm of a chicken in mischeif?

 

[carladababe]

My girls enjoy our garden outings, days when I get to work outside. You have to watch your footing though, they're usually right underneath waiting for a bug or worm that's been disturbed. They do a really nice good of working the soil, and I find the company rather enjoyable.

 

[feeding frenzy]

I let my chicks free range all day ever since i got them. They haven't destroyed any plants yet. They are now over 2 month pullets. They only nibble on greens and tree leaves. They just love scratching for bugs

 

[Chicks on DL]

I would of been soo mad at that chicken! Not enough to turn it into drumsticks, but still mad. I'd get over it, after all, who can resist the face and charm of a chicken in mischeif?

I love chicken mischief! I have to laugh when on pecks at the back door or sneaks her way out of the yard (it is time to clip their wings because leaving the yard is dangerous). We only let them in the garden after we have harvested to eat what is left and scratch and till for us. I have horseradish in one of my pots and only one of my hens cares for it. She only takes a nibble every now then. They are funny little things.