What Breed Is Good For Keeping In A Garden?

[BlueLagoonRabbitry]

What breeds of chickens would be good to keep in my garden to keep weeds and bugs down? Thinking only three with a small coop to lock them up in at night...

 

[Illia]

Bantams. Small bantams. That's your best bet, but even they will start to dig up your wanted plants.

The best thing to do, really, is only allow your chickens where you don't want things to be destroyed. So, keeping them around when plants are fully mature and large, before plants grow, or later in the year is fine. . . But otherwise your best bet to not get the garden wrecked is by using small bantam breeds like Cochins or Seramas. . . Less damage.

 

[rebecky1305]

Chickens will tear up a garden quickly. They scratch for bugs and rip out any plantings along the way. They will also eat everything there is to eat, plants, weeds, vegetables.

 

[wclawrence]

Ducks.

 

[Debbi]

I've never had any chicken, bantam or large fowl, that didn't totally destroy my garden. I always have to roar with laughter when some folks swear Marans aren't heavy scratchers, and are good for your garden!

Don't believe that for one second! Mine not only scratch, they dig holes!! I use a small Mantis tiller in my garden to help keep down the weeds.

 

[happyhensny]

Even if you wait till the garden is in "full swing" they chooks will peck at one tomato move on and peck at another. So, if you don't mind poultry-pecked maters...

 

[bywaterdog]

The only type of chicken that is guaranteed not to dig up your garden ? Rubber chickens do little, except to put a smile on your face.

 

[krcote]

Quote:
x2

 

[chicmom]

Hello there!

I after my garden is growing well, and the plants are rooted real good, then I let a few special hens get in there with me when I'm harvesting green beans or peas or whatever......They just love running in between the rows of corn and pecking around. I will throw them a bug now and then too...

But I don't let them stay for long, and when I'm done, they're done......I have an older hen Daisy, who is my buddy, and she's my garden helper......It's fun because they're so darned curious.....and I talk to them as I harvest and they keep me company......

Gee.....Do I sound like a CRAZY CHICKEN LADY?

 

[urbanolive]

I read that Sultans don't scratch as much, and that actual sultans kept them as garden ornaments for that reason. Feather feets can't tear up the ground as much either. I do let mine in the garden after everything is up and established, I put rocks and bricks at the base of plants. I plant enough tomatoes so that they are free to peck at the lower ones. I try to only let them out for a few hours a day and haven't had any problems with destruction of grass, but we have a large yard about 3/4 acre that they roam all over.