Suburban Backyard - Let Chickens Run Amok?

[My Three Chicks]

I have 4 7-month old hens that I adore. They have a 9'×24' secure run which they seem to be very happy in. But I have started giving then full access to the backyard a couple of hours a day when I can supervise them. It's not a huge yard maybe 7x the size of their run but it's got grass, lots of planters, garden, patio, dirt, bugs/grubbies, garden, etc. They love it. And today discovered my herb garden. They are scratching and pecking as they do and are making a bit of a mess (kicking mulch and dirt out of garden bed, eating/ruining grass, etc) and destroying some of my plants. I'm torn about letting them be versus trying to keep them under control if that's possible I am not trying to keep a prestine yard but was wondering what you all do!

 

[21hens-incharge]

My birds are confined most of the time. In spring before garden is planted I allow some time out of the run twice a week. Once the garden is in so are they...in their run. Come fall after harvest I let them out twice a week again.

They still manage to find trouble and make a mess. It's just easier to fix if it's not a daily thing.

 

[Isadora]

My chickens free range, so anything I want to protect is surrounded by a fence.

 

[Brooks_]

Fence in or out to save your plant. I accept risk. They get out and sometimes into the plants.

 

[3KillerBs]

Fence them into where you do want them or out of where you don't want them.

I have my own garden and share the property with my avid gardener SIL so my chickens are confined to keep them out of trouble.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I used to have a garden. Now I have chickens!

It's okay, I've had health issues the last several years that have kept me from gardening anyway, plus I HATE ticks! But I may be able to start gardening again soon. If that happens, chickens watch out! Y'all are gonna get grounded, lol!

 

[3KillerBs]

I used to have a garden. Now I have chickens!

It's okay, I've had health issues the last several years that have kept me from gardening anyway, plus I HATE ticks! But I may be able to start gardening again soon. If that happens, chickens watch out! Y'all are gonna get grounded, lol!

The mother of one of the members of the gaming group has chickens and a garden. Her solution is free-range chickens (they have several acres), and a fenced in, raised bed garden in the middle of the backyard).

 

[debbier98]

I have 4 7-month old hens that I adore. They have a 9'×24' secure run which they seem to be very happy in. But I have started giving then full access to the backyard a couple of hours a day when I can supervise them. It's not a huge yard maybe 7x the size of their run but it's got grass, lots of planters, garden, patio, dirt, bugs/grubbies, garden, etc. They love it. And today discovered my herb garden. They are scratching and pecking as they do and are making a bit of a mess (kicking mulch and dirt out of garden bed, eating/ruining grass, etc) and destroying some of my plants. I'm torn about letting them be versus trying to keep them under control if that's possible I am not trying to keep a prestine yard but was wondering what you all do!

I understand your problem all to well. I'm lucky in a sence as I can let my chickens have almost the entire back property, (I have a little over 2 1/2 acres) I have fenced of a portion of the backyard from the back of the house and on one side of our house for the dogs. So the only things I have growing in the back property is tree's. I have 4 raised gardens, but they are totally enclosed. Gophers are our biggest problem. If I plant something in the ground, within 48 hours gophers show up! If I plant a new tree, my chickens like scratching around the tree rings. Sometimes they'll dig alittle deeper than I want and when they're done I just go fix it. I tried planting them a forage area out by the barn. I can fence it off to keep the chickens out until it grows, but once again, the gophers showup and destroy it. So my girls have to wait until the end of garden season, then I open the gardens and let them do the mulching, fertilizing and cleaning up - saves me alot of work. But as to your problem, I think I would try and pick an area, fence it off from where you don't want them to go and plant them a forage area. I think most Feed Stores and stores like Tractor Supply sell seeds for that - in our area most do. Chickens love to forage, and look for bugs. Hope you're able to find a happy comprimse for yourself and your chickens.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

The mother of one of the members of the gaming group has chickens and a garden. Her solution is free-range chickens (they have several acres), and a fenced in, raised bed garden in the middle of the backyard).

We had always free ranged every afternoon, letting our little Sheltie do guard duty, and had sustained few losses. But she's getting old, spending more time indoors, and a few weeks ago we lost our rooster and 5 hens to a coyote. Not free ranging much now.

 

[debbier98]

We had always free ranged every afternoon, letting our little Sheltie do guard duty, and had sustained few losses. But she's getting old, spending more time indoors, and a few weeks ago we lost our rooster and 5 hens to a coyote. Not free ranging much now.

So sorry to hear you lost chickens to coyotes. My chickens are free range, and like you, I've had problems with coyotes, and my biggest problem was with a near by neighbor who use to think it amusing to let his dogs in my yard to chase and KILL my chickens. The coyotes were fairly easy to deal with. I found where they were accessing my property and secured it,(and I keep my rifle handy just in case I find a coyote who manages to access my yard during the day) and I keep a close watch when I'm home. As to the neighbor, I end up having to let him know I would have no compuncion in shooting his dogs should they get in my yard again. I have a Rottweiler and I keep him away from the chickens. I have spent 2 years working with my rottie to get him to get "along" with my chickens and not kill them. I can now allow him around the chickens without him chasing or killing them. But of course I'm always around to supervise - just in case he forgets! At night my chickens are locked in their coops and my rottie has access to entire yard - (except for the front of the house) and he keeps any and all intruders away. In the winter time, my rottie is usually in the house at night, but again, my flock is locked in their coop at night and safe from any harm.