Wandering chickens can wreak havoc on flower gardens.
Raising chickens is not just a business for farmers. Many people keep small flocks of chickens in backyard coops. These feathered fowl provide a dependable source of fresh eggs, but they can wreak havoc on lawns and flowerbeds. Although free-range chickens play an important role in pest control throughout the landscape, their strong feet and sharp beaks can destroy an attractive flower garden in short order.
Digging
Chickens are natural diggers. Many of their natural food sources lie just beneath the surface of the soil. Chickens eat bugs, worms and flying insects, as well as grains, seeds and buried roots. Cultivated garden areas are rich sources of these foods, making them a strong magnet for free-range chickens. Even well-fed chickens show a natural inclination for digging. Large patches of bare soil also provide a welcoming spot for dust bathing, a favorite pastime of chickens during the heat of summer.
Damage
Unfortunately, chickens can't discern between bugs that damage your flower plants and beneficial species. They also show little regard for your many hours of labor on weeding, pruning and fertilizing your prize flowers. Uprooted plants may quickly die, especially on hot, dry days. Keeping the flowers out of chickens' reach is the best way to protect your plants from chicken damage.
Planters
Unlike other birds, most chickens prefer to keep their feet on the ground, making raised flowerbeds and overhead plant hangers a solution for some gardeners. Although chickens can jump into open flowerbeds, planting your flowers close together in raised beds will help keep the soil out of sight and deter the efforts of chickens that have access to other areas of open soil.
Barriers
Barriers are the most effective way of keeping chickens out of flowerbeds and gardens. Bird netting is a type of lightweight, woven plastic that drapes over the tops of flowers, fruit trees and garden vegetables, keeping them safe from scavenging chickens. Persistent chickens may work their way through the thin netting. Covering the open rows between plants will help minimize a chicken's interest in your flower garden. A 2-inch layer of medium-sized gravel will provide the same protection. Chicken fencing is a common material for keeping chickens out of certain areas. A temporary garden fence made from chicken wire and wooden garden stakes can limit entry into your flowerbeds. Another option is to contain your chickens in an open-bottomed pen that you can transport throughout your yard, allowing the chickens to scratch in the areas you choose.
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