Protecting Flowers

[blackcatnewt]

I've had yardbirds for 5 years now and appreciate the benefits of letting them free range about the yard everyday. Eat bugs, grass, ect. and half as much feed. Neighbors enjoy watching them too. I have netting for the garden however too many flowers to protect this way. The wife wants to not let them out anymore. I want to compromise and suggested not using mulch but incorporating flat rocks available to go around flowers and places we want to discourage digging. It would be a lot of work but feel a permanent fix. Has anyone tried this or have a better suggestion. I don't want to turn my coupe and pen area into Stallock 13 for the birds. They have been free since big to have full feathers. Thanks Ron

 

[Feather Head]

You might think about trying a motion activated water sprinkler that comes on when there is any kind of movement and will spray water. That is a win win. Chickens stay out and your wife's flowers get watered. You can get them at wall-mart.

 

[kmatt87]

You might think about trying a motion activated water sprinkler that comes on when there is any kind of movement and will spray water. That is a win win. Chickens stay out and your wife's flowers get watered. You can get them at wall-mart.

i didn't know they had these! thanks, i might use this tip myself

 

[blackcatnewt]

Certainly a good idea for one area, we have a big yard and it will call for a mix of detourants to complete the mission. I am optimistic a few more suggestions as well as trial and error will have the birds free to roam around the yard again. Thanks

 

[petdr96]

I put down chickenwire in my barrel planters to keep the chickens from digging up the flowers. You just cut out what you ned and can use landscape fabric tacks to keep it in place. This is easier if you can do it from seed. I also started a Butterfly garden and I did not want them diggin up the seedlings. The flowers are sprouting nicely and the chickens dont even go in that section of the yard anymore. I'm seriously considering putting tomato cages around more of my vegetables in the garden though. They found an easy area to hop through the fence and have really enjoyed digging in the garden.

 

[3forfree]

I put down chickenwire in my barrel planters to keep the chickens from digging up the flowers. You just cut out what you ned and can use landscape fabric tacks to keep it in place. This is easier if you can do it from seed. I also started a Butterfly garden and I did not want them diggin up the seedlings. The flowers are sprouting nicely and the chickens dont even go in that section of the yard anymore. I'm seriously considering putting tomato cages around more of my vegetables in the garden though. They found an easy area to hop through the fence and have really enjoyed digging in the garden.

what did you use for your butterfly garden? I have an area that I'm cleaning up and want to plant something but haven't decided what. Butterfly garden sounds like something I could do.

 

[petdr96]

So this is what happens when I get busy with other things and don't follow my own posts! Sorry about the delay LOL.

I purchased a butterfly garden kit seeds from a friend as part of a boy scout sale, or school sale, I dont remember which. I then also got one of those butterfly mix seed packets when I was at Ace hardware looking for plumbing supplies. So I planted all from seeds and it pretty much took all summer for the plants to establish. I still have quite a few weeds growing as well. However, the mix of the 2 packets produced some very super tall Zinnias as well as Bee Balm. There is some purple coneflower too which did not produce any flowers this year. There is some milkweed which is really supposed to attract butterflies and encourage egg laying. As a nice bonus, we attracted a hummingbird which I unfortunately did not get to see but my husband did! I also planted a Butterfly bush right next to the butterfly garden and it bloomed really nicely all summer. I am pretty much planning on letting the plants naturalize for a couple of year before trying to get the weeds out. We do have some sort of groundcover that has really pretty little white flowers in it. I'm sure it is some sort of weed but I've let it go just because it looks so nice. There are several other types of flowers that should have been in the seed mix, I think daisies are one. I cant remember. The kit from my friend had more high-quality seeds with nicer plants than the one I got from the hardware store. But, considering that the butterfly garden was planted over a previous weed pit, it is much of an improvement.

And, the chickens did not do any significant damage to the butterfly garden except for pecking up some of the little sprouts.

Kris