Not sure ?? Im frustrated and afraid!

[Chixnbacn]

Okay, so I have already mentioned in previous posts I have a 80 acre wetlandia, BUT, Im really looking forward to having flower beds and gardens of all sorts but if I free range my chickens will destroy them all. Does anyone have advice? Ps they will fly over fences for my garden . I am really wanting to give them freedom but scared ti lose all our food again. My ducks will totally free range and dont cause issues with fenced in gardens or not fenced flowerbeds, or uncover my foundation, so theyre fine

 

[Ridgerunner]

The only thing that works is fences. Either you fence the chickens in or you fence them out. Chickens like to scratch in fresh dirt or mulch so they can be a pain. Plus they can peck fruits and vegetables.

Will they fly over a fence? You never know until you try. Many physically can but don't. What often happens is that they fly up onto a fence to perch, then who knows what side they hop down on. Once they learn there is good stuff on the other side they are more likely to go back.

What I find effective is to not give them anything to land on at the top of the fence. Do not put a solid top rail on the fence, leave it wire. If you use wooden posts extend the wire several inches straight up above the post so they don't have anything to land on.

 

[Chixnbacn]

Thank you thats super! This last year we still had a crop but it wasnt as good as it could have been because chicken. But this year I will try to extend their run to make them more room and maybe even include a stream in it. Husband says thats bad idea that predators could enter run by going under water under fence?

 

[debid]

The way I see it, you should build a chicken tractor rather than a stationary coop and don't put them anywhere near your garden while it's in production. With that much space, I think you should have room for both goals. Depending on how many birds and the predator situation, there is also the possibility of a mobile confinement setup so they get some ranging benefits but in a limited area that changes often.

 

[Chixnbacn]

100 chickens, but everything important is kept near house to keep coyotes bears and racoons away from livestock and gardens until we get a guardian dog

 

[Chixnbacn]

We have 3 coops 2 have connected runs

 

[debid]

Hahahaha, yeah, that is a much bigger issue than I had guessed. I like the idea of keeping the top of the fence flexible so they can't land on it comfortably. Hopefully that's enough because fencing a garden against aerial attack is expensive.