sandyhas3chucks Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I let my girls into the flower garden to go slugging.... I have/had some hardy geraniums. they have been well scratched over. do they normally die right down & regrow next year or have they been chooked to death? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 Hardy Geraniums will come back next year so long as there is enough of the roots left. They are pretty tough plants so all should be ok in the spring when they will re-grow. I find my girls love anything they are not supposed to be near and in particular herbacious plants that hide snails and slugs underneath. So at least they are getting rid of the pests for you but I find it is best to keep them off this kind of plant in the spring so they can grow and flower for you. You could fence of the flower bed to keep them out or put a bucket over anything you prize whilst they are out foraging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindyloodles Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I used to have hardy geraniums in my garden. That is until I got chickens. yes, they do die back in the winter, but my chickens love them, especially the new shoots, so don't hold out too much hope for them when spring arrives! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 4, 2008 Author Share Posted November 4, 2008 i think an upturned basket will help. I have some flower bits fenced off already to keep the dogs out, I acyually let them in & didn't watch properly, good weeders eh. glad they should come back as they as yet haven't eaten geranius!!! biut they didn't eat my climbing petunias for weeks & weeks either, just as well they were real tall.so only lost the bottom few. I suppose we all have trampolining chickens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 I have 3 areas in my garden with hardy geraniums. Area 1 - chooks ate the hardy geraniums ALL summer long, they didn't die, but they are about one inch high stumps. Area 2 - moved the chooks to winter spot few weeks ago, the lovely bushy hardy geraniums I had a few weeks ago, were gobbled, trampled, scratched to death in a few weeks. Area 3 - FORT KNOX - fenced in chicken proof border, lovely, bushy, big hardy geraniums with ....... FLOWERS......!!!!!!!!!!! (There is hope - These were the nibbled stumps from last year by the way and they looked lovely this year). Ooooo.... chooks don't 'alf love tasty hardy geraniums, sedums, lobelia, fushias....... but I won't go on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 My chooks must have gardners genes as they just scratched round my hardy geraniums with only the occasional peck at them. This meant that they were beatifully weeded. I feel I've been really lucky now . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted November 4, 2008 Share Posted November 4, 2008 My chooks must have gardners genes as they just scratched round my hardy geraniums with only the occasional peck at them. This meant that they were beatifully weeded. I feel I've been really lucky now . Blimey..... your girls are well trained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 5, 2008 Author Share Posted November 5, 2008 T"here is hope - These were the nibbled stumps from last year by the way and they looked lovely this year)." That was what I WANTED to hear! However I think it's send the chooks to Moomin for garden manner training Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 My chooks must have gardners genes as they just scratched round my hardy geraniums with only the occasional peck at them. This meant that they were beatifully weeded. I feel I've been really lucky now . Blimey..... your girls are well trained. I run a finishing school for girl chooks don't you know They always drink out of the right side of the glug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted November 5, 2008 Share Posted November 5, 2008 However I think it's send the chooks to Moomin for garden manner training Dunno where you got that idea - my hardy G's are stumps too! Scratched to a painful death by marauding chicken-feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
