My poor flower beds- any advice?

[liz_s]

Hi!

I have "flower beds" around the foundation of my house. I put quotes around that because they are picked clean- no flowers, even in the spring and summer. I came outside today, and the chickens had dug even farther down in the peat and unearthed some poor bulbs trying to grow. I assume it's because there are yummy bugs in there, but it makes me want to tear out my hair!

I have looked around at earlier posts, but couldn't find exactly what I was wondering. Which is: is there any type of fence I could use only for PARTS of the flower beds that isn't 6-foot hardware cloth? I'm okay with them having most of the beds, because I understand how wonderful it is, but I'd like to grow a few kinds of flowers this year. It would be ideal if I could use those ornamental little fence pieces only directly around the flowers, but I don't know if the chickens would be able to hop them or dig them out, or if they would be content with most of the flower beds, just not all of them.

Anybody out there with experiences with this type of "fencing"? I realize that I signed up for this, but I'm hoping that maybe there's a compromise...

Thanks for any help!

Liz

 

[CMV]

I use electric poultry netting in a dark green color (to blend better with the landscape than the stark white electrified netting I have everywhere else) in short heights- 24". The birds have learned to stay away from the electrified netting. They don't fly over it, for reasons known only to themselves. I think they mostly avoid it because there are much more tempting treats easily accessible everywhere else.

I have lovely and extensive flower beds. The chickens dig a few dust bath holes, but mostly stay out of the gardens. It's taken 4 years to get them to stay out, though. Chickens do learn. It just takes a while to get the message through to them. Me, the kid and 2 dogs chasing them out of the garden spaces has probably helped. The netting achieved the rest.

Good luck.

 

[liz_s]

Thanks CMV

I have two questions:

1: Where did you get the netting, and
2: How does it work? Does it hurt the chickens? I assume it isn't too bad, because I'm sure you don't want to harm your chickens any more that I do! But I'm curious.

This is my first house, and I have always dreamed of beautiful flower beds. My garden is easier to protect, but flowers look so nice!

Liz

 

[sunflowerenvy]

Quote:
ouch

i look up electric netting cost but how long does the netting last for?
i think it is cheaper to pen in your chicken in a big coop. and u keep your chickens for 4 years and do u still get eggs from them?

 

[teach1rusl]

If it's a case of digging up the beds, you might try decorative rock (like solite) rather than mulch. Of course if it's a case of them actually eating the plants, then fencing will be the key. They probably would be able to hop over those little decorative fence pieces of 12 -18 inches, but just because they CAN jump over doesn't mean they will...so you might try a few pieces to see.

 

[xyresicchick]

for singular plants, i would get some bird netting (like what you'd use to keep wild birds from eating the berries off of a blueberry bush) and wrap the bush/plant with it. they might be able to pick some of the outer leaves, but the inner areas would be fine.

for flower bed soil protection, you could lay down hardware cloth or chicken wire and use landscaping staples (like these) to hold it down. (you will need to hammer them into the ground being careful of the bulbs that are still intact.) that way, the bulbs will be safe. if the bulbs are big, i suggest going with chicken wire. if the bulbs are small ones like crocuses, hardware cloth would be fine. but chicken wire is cheaper and probably what i would use. and the best thing about this, is that you can hide the chicken wire with more mulch

if you need to keep the chickens away from multiple plants, i say fence them out completely.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

You can try fencing them out, but if they're really determined, it usually takes a really tall fence. At least, it has for me.

To prevent digging, some areas could be protected by fencing with holes large enough for the plants to grow through, laid flat on the ground. They can still eat those plants, but not dig up the roots or bulbs. You might be able to use some large flat stones in particular areas, too. Maybe for a special plant or a particular area that they become obsessed with.

Have you made a dust bathing area for them? I've done that, too. Actually, I've given them a couple of different spots. One is in a covered area of the run, so it's always dry and fluffy for them. That one is mainly sand. The other area is sunny. If you find they love the organic material in your flower beds, try adding some peat to a dust bath. Try to imitate what they like. In my case, I gave them an unused flower bed with a lot of organic material in it, after they decided they were in love with potting soil one year.

I also plant a lot of foods for my chickens to forage on. They eat those foods, instead of my flowers. They've even stopped eating the hosta. Do you have an area that you can plant for the chickens? Maybe even around the outside of their run? We don't apply any chemicals to the lawn and they like eating our grass. They also have clover to eat, from our pasture area. I plant a lot of different dark leafy greens for them and that's probably their favorite. I think rainbow Swiss chard is pretty and mine love it. Many leaf lettuces are frilly and colored, too. They also like spinach, kale and collards. Wheat, oats, buckwheat or flax can be grown as grass, too. I also plant cherry tomatoes for them and extras of any berries I grow.

Other than when a particular fruit is ripe, when just wandering around their favorites seem to be the grasses, dark leafy greens and spending hours digging around in the leaf litter. Nothing is better than leaf litter, for my chickens. Maybe give them a little area for a leaf pile, if you can.

 

[MareeZoCool]

Those chickens will be able to get inside most any fencing you put up much easier than you will!

My idea for this Spring/summer is to place some chicken wire on the ground, anchored with tent- or u- pins Then spread mulch on top of the wire. I'm hoping this will help my flower beds look much prettier and organized this year.
Yes, I will leave some garden space set aside for the chickens, this will be a pea patch, so they can pick and peck to their heart's content!

 

[zazouse]

I put chicken wire down on it to keep my birds from digging it up my beds , don't know if this will work for you but it works great here.

I use a single strand hot wire around my garden to keep them out and that works great also.

 

[CMV]

Quote:
I have a local retailer that sells Guardian and Premier products, so I just go through them. Your local agricultural store should carry electrified fencing, poultry netting and chargers of all varieties. I use solar chargers and have a couple of different intensities depending on what application I need. The chickens will test the fence at times. They are pretty well insulated from a direct pop by their feathers, but occasionally one will get hit. This is the most interesting part- the chickens that get a direct hit from the fence will seem to discuss the issue of the fence "biting" them amongst themselves and with the flock. They will have a long chat about it, and then after the chat I will note a distinctly fewer number of birds testing the fence and/or actively avoiding the fence. I swear they are telling each other about the evil fence and to avoid it. I have never lost a bird to my fences and I use electrified netting everywhere. I love the stuff. I have serious predator issues because I live in a wildlife corridor, but the predators I have had the most losses to are of the aerial variety, which are not deterred by electric fencing. I started using electrified netting to keep the predators out, keep my massive hogs in, and to keep the deer out of my vegetable gardens, but now I use them everywhere. I have found these fences to be handy in a million different ways. Sometimes I don't even run a charger to them because all the resident creatures have been acclimated to them and avoid them like the plague. I find they are worth their weight in gold.