mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I have had my girls now for a week - they are very happy and have settled in nicely - not even minding TOO much when my grandson (14months) tries to grab a passing tail ...... How does anyone protect their plants?? The girls have all but demolished the patch of chives, and are doing quite well on love in the mist and primula!!!! Is there anything I can do?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The best thing to do is to either confine the hens to a plant free area, or protect the plants with netting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 Thanks - I reckon I'll have to put a few shrubs in instead, although - perhaps I could think of a way of creating a good sized run instead of having them totally free - but they do like to be able to investigate all the nooks and crannies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 I have collapsible willow trellis which I use along the edge of my beds. It works as a brill deterrent. If they are determined they can get over it but mostly they can't be bothered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 I have collapsible willow trellis which I use along the edge of my beds. It works as a brill deterrent. If they are determined they can get over it but mostly they can't be bothered! That sounds interesting - how tall is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Plant robust shrubs instead-saves soooo much heartache! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Just to let you know some chicken proof plants are: Bottlebrush bushes, Tobacco plants Glossy leaved shrubs Fuschia Cyclamens Sedums Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 Plant robust shrubs instead-saves soooo much heartache! Yes - I am thinking that may be the answer - though I like the idea of the willow trellis. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 Just to let you know some chicken proof plants are:Bottlebrush bushes, Tobacco plants Glossy leaved shrubs Fuschia Cyclamens Sedums I appreciate all the helpful comments - It has given me food for thought ..... Thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 The trellis is maybe 10" high - it depends how much you stretch it out I guess. I protect 2 of my flower beds with it and my tulips have survived!! So have the lavenders and they ate them last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 16, 2008 Author Share Posted April 16, 2008 The trellis is maybe 10" high - it depends how much you stretch it out I guess. I protect 2 of my flower beds with it and my tulips have survived!! So have the lavenders and they ate them last year. Wow, brilliant - I thought I would have to get something a lot higher - I will definitely have a look for some. I really appreciate the help - thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 16, 2008 Share Posted April 16, 2008 Wow, brilliant - I thought I would have to get something a lot higher - I will definitely have a look for some. I really appreciate the help - thanks Pound Stretcher had some in a couple of weeks ago, much cheaper than getting it from a garden centre. I'm having some success protecting emerging perennials using upturned empty wire hanging baskets. It stops the hens s"Ooops, word censored!"ping up the new shoots and from a distance they look invisible. On my veggie beds I've used expanding trellis and also netted off the raspberries completely. Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 Wow, brilliant - I thought I would have to get something a lot higher - I will definitely have a look for some. I really appreciate the help - thanks Pound Stretcher had some in a couple of weeks ago, much cheaper than getting it from a garden centre. I'm having some success protecting emerging perennials using upturned empty wire hanging baskets. It stops the hens s"Ooops, word censored!"ping up the new shoots and from a distance they look invisible. On my veggie beds I've used expanding trellis and also netted off the raspberries completely. Jo I knew it was a good idea to ask my new found friends on the Omlet forum, Thanks again to everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
druids57 Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Hi Did laugh at your 14mth old grandson grabbing at tails - I have two grand daughters the same age and they do exactly that. They arent quite quick enough yet to catch a "cat cat" as they call the chickens. Lilly did manage to capture a tortoise sunbathing yesterday though. Perhaps that expanding trellis may be good to fence them in (the girls not the tortoises ) Druid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Mine have completely shredded my sedums and everything else . We fenced off the flowerbed with the Omlet netting only to look out 30 minutes later and see two chickens happily scratching around in there. Still no idea how they did it unless they shimmied under? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted April 17, 2008 Share Posted April 17, 2008 Omlet netting is great, but yes they will get underneath it if it's not tightly stretched or pegged down! It is expensive but definitely worth it. I've used the willow trellis to good effect as well, they could fly over it but generally don't seem to bother - they just go off and scratch somewhere else. I put upturned hanging baskets over my plant-pots (they don't eat my chives, just scratch all the earth out of the pot ) but as summer comes and there are more things growing, I will use the netting to restrict them to one area at a time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 Mine have completely shredded my sedums and everything else . We fenced off the flowerbed with the Omlet netting only to look out 30 minutes later and see two chickens happily scratching around in there. Still no idea how they did it unless they shimmied under? Well with a surfer dog and shimmying chickens - what more could you want??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyeyre Posted April 17, 2008 Author Share Posted April 17, 2008 Hi Did laugh at your 14mth old grandson grabbing at tails - I have two grand daughters the same age and they do exactly that. They arent quite quick enough yet to catch a "cat cat" as they call the chickens. Lilly did manage to capture a tortoise sunbathing yesterday though. Perhaps that expanding trellis may be good to fence them in (the girls not the tortoises ) Druid I am surprised that the chickens (Gloria, Maisie and Millie) aren't more nervous of the little one - Harry! he loves them and is very unchuffed when I have to persuade him to come in. Gloria is my Miss Pepperpot, and the other girls are gingernut rangers - Gloria looks rather like a rather large crow ( I'm whispering so as not to offend her) I am hoping that her glorious sheen will mature as she does!!! I trust the tortoise got over his shock Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
