Saving the Landscaping

[trifecta]

Has anyone found any method (other than confinement) of protecting your landscaping from the chooks?

Our chickens (3 ISA Browns, 1 BCM Roo) have a 1x3 meter 2 story aviary/tractor style coop, and I let the free range on 2000 ACRES EVERY DAY!!!!! So why, why, why must they eat my petunias and geraniums????????

Thus, my dilemma. Does anyone have any sort of home made concoctions that they spray on the nice plants to keep the chickens away? They are making me a bit crazy right now because they can literally go anywhere on the property they want, but they beeline for the garden beds. My backup plan is electric poultry netting, but I would like to allow them to run around as they please if possible.

Cheers,
Natalie

 

[aart]

Why? ....maybe because they are delicious?

Fence 'em in ...or fence 'em out.

 

[wyoDreamer]

Maybe, with 2000 acres, you could make them their own garden area in the opposite direction as your flowers. Stock it with plants that they like to eat, maybe some mulch to dig in, some shrubs for hiding under or even a compost pile.

 

[chickens really]

The more you keep them away, the more they seem to want it?
I have petunias planted in a big pot with tomatoes and other flowers right out my coop door...They never really bother with it..I also have geraniums and merigolds planted in a pot in front of my Duck pen...My ducks love the flowers..I just let them have a sample and get them moving on...Lilac trees and tall grasses work great too..They love to hide and peck under them...

 

[rosemarythyme]

They probably enjoy the plants there as much as the loose soil to dig in.

I like the suggestion of planting them their own little garden. Mine seem to enjoy picking at the kale and chard that are growing past the chicken wire fence I've put around the veggies. Once I'm done with that garden bed for the season I'll take down the fence and let them have their fun with the remaining plants.

 

[trifecta]

Thanks. We have some remaining garden beds that are unplanted. Ill try making something special just for them. I kept them up the past 2 days and they seem to have lost interest for now!