What kind of fowl can I put in my garden that won't destroy the plants?

[chawkins]

I have learned that chickens and gardens don't mix. I have a lot of bugs that I want destroyed. What kind of other fowl can I have roam the garden? I have heard of Guinea fowl or maybe even some ducks?
Any Ideas?

 

[Arica]

I would say guinea. Fowl or duck or a light breed or chickens btw what breeds do u hav

 

[Arica]

Oh and ducks

 

[Kevin565]

What kind of plants do you have? Runner ducks are great for snail control. Have you thought about geese?

 

[chawkins]

I will have basic white leghorns. Nothing at this moment.
So are Guinea fowl or ducks better? I heard that Guinea fowl can eat crops, yes? no?

 

[chawkins]

Corn, squash (with lots of squash bugs which are horrible), tomatoes and peppers

 

[downsm75]

Ducks will ruin a garden QUICK! What they don't eat, they trample. Chickens aren't very goo with hardens either ... Not sure about guinea... Pretty sure about the same tho. I'd try seven for gardens

 

[Malibu99]

I think that with every type of fowl, there is a risk of it ruining your garden. You could try Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth. That is an organic solution that you wouldn't have to worry about it trampling your garden.

 

[Moochie]

Bantams? My Japanese bantams and OEGBs are no match for the forest of plants in my mom's garden, they will peck at some leaves here and there, but everything is so thick that they can't destroy it. The only thing I fear is when they get close to my grapes! Not my grapes! NO! I have to protect my grapes and any small fruits coming in on trees. I also have to protect the melons on the ground. Other than that they'll take care of any bugs

 

[Mum]

Ducks will ruin a garden QUICK! What they don't eat, they trample. Chickens aren't very goo with hardens either ... Not sure about guinea... Pretty sure about the same tho. I'd try seven for gardens

Perhaps you can share your experience of this because that is not my experience

I have 13 hens and 9 ducks.
The hens scratch up the garden and make dust baths where ever they fancy and that includes digging up plants in the borders through their scratching habit.
Ducks "dabble/nuzzle" and are far less distructive.

I've had my ducks free ranging around my raised vegetable beds (seeking out slugs and snails) and they haven't touched the vegetables growing in there. I let my ASBO hen out in the same area and she was off like the clappers attempting to dust bath in the other raised bed, pecking at my tomatoes and being a little bugger; bless her!