Need ideas to prevent Chickens digging up the garden

[lissalischicks]

Hi Everyone,

I hope this is the right place to post this. So I know chickens dig... and they dig up everything. They are always digging up the roots of the plants and have killed many of our shrubs, flowers, roses, trees, etc. Putting barriers up around all the little plants is not going to work nor is blocking off all the areas. I have semi accepted they will never stop digging but was wondering if people out there were doing anything to try to prevent this.

 

[Chullicken]

I don't let mine out of the run anymore on their own, my parents next door got tired very quickly of having their flower beds up rooted over and over. Cattle fencing or electro netting however unsightly may be your best option....or just keep them in an enclosed run.

 

[lissalischicks]

I don't let mine out of the run anymore on their own, my parents next door got tired very quickly of having their flower beds up rooted over and over. Cattle fencing or electro netting however unsightly may be your best option....or just keep them in an enclosed run.

Yeah I was trying to prevent this.

 

[JaeG]

You might have to swap them for little feather-legged bantams. They can't scratch as much - I tend to put big chunks of straw in the runs and let the birds spread it around. Our little pekin/cochin bantams hardly spread it at all - it's just not possible round their feathery feet. Not sure if large feather-legged chickens have the same handicap.

 

[jthornton]

This is what chicken wire is for...

JT

 

[Suzi18]

There are breeds that don't do much damage. My CB and my Orpingtons aren't big diggers. They do very litte damage.

 

[lissalischicks]

Hmmm my 2 BO are avid diggers.

I was just wondering if anyone had tricks.....

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Chicken wire on the ground under the mulch, or over the mulch to preserve it. Maybe a ten inch high wood fence fairly close to the plants roots, so they don't really have room to back up and scratch. They'll get inside the fence but can't do too much. Doesn't look awful.

 

[Folly's place]

Fencing. Selecting plantings that the little excavators can't destroy.
The shrubs next to my coop are protected by rocks; 3" to 6" rocks, scattered in the mulch close enough together to discourage digging. They dig holes everywhere else.
Any trees or shrubs that they can reach, have the mulch rearranged and spread out further.
Chickens!
Mary

 

[lissalischicks]

Doesn't look awful.

Lol. I think that the problem for me. I am afraid to make the garden look awful. I also had chicken wire but one of the girls got down to it and somehow roped her foot so I was scared to do it again. Maybe more mulch on top

Thanks for the ideas so far!!!