For those who love to free range their chickens but hate them digging in the garden or pooping on the front porch.... I thought I'd share something that works for me.
Behold, the Terrible Towel!
Step 1: Choose an old towel or piece of cloth. (My dad, who taught me this trick, used an old carhartt jacket). Throw it into the air at your unsuspecting chickens so it "swoops" down at them like a hawk. Then pick it up and let them calm down. Repeat every so often, a couple of times a day for a week or two. Don't do it every time the chickens see you, or they might fear you instead of the towel. Advanced maneuvers involve hiding yourself(drop it out a window, from a porch, off the roof...) to enhance the impression that the towel is alive. Important: use the same towel every time.
Step 2: hang your Terrible Towel in the area you don't want your chickens to go.
Mine is guarding freshly planted seeds.
Behold, the Terrible Towel!
Step 1: Choose an old towel or piece of cloth. (My dad, who taught me this trick, used an old carhartt jacket). Throw it into the air at your unsuspecting chickens so it "swoops" down at them like a hawk. Then pick it up and let them calm down. Repeat every so often, a couple of times a day for a week or two. Don't do it every time the chickens see you, or they might fear you instead of the towel. Advanced maneuvers involve hiding yourself(drop it out a window, from a porch, off the roof...) to enhance the impression that the towel is alive. Important: use the same towel every time.
Step 2: hang your Terrible Towel in the area you don't want your chickens to go.
Mine is guarding freshly planted seeds.
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I tried owl and hawk decoys but they eventually get used to everything. My chickens are bold.
