AJuff Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 grow in a raised bed inside the hen enclosure> After opening up the whole side of the garden to the hens I loose my raised bed. I do gain another larger flatter more convenient one in the main garden though!!! However I did wonder if anything could grow there that hens aren't interested in. For example would the rough leaves of courgettes leave them safe? Do they eat broadbean leaves etc? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 even if they don't eat it, they're still likely to scratch/dig it up. I wouldn't have thought anything would survive. Well, maybe a good sturdy shrub or a tree but nothing else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 get a couple of dwarf fruit trees, see earlier thread, there's quite a few places that are selling them cheap right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 My girls aren't interested in hardy herbs such as rosemary, sage, thyme. As Poet said they'd probably prefer it as a dustbath or to scratch around in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Mine tend to leave lavender alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 If you can net the plants until they have established a little then you should be okay. My girls did no significant damage to courgette, sweetcorn, broadbeans, peas or potatoes last year on the allotment. A misplaced dustbath decimated some carrots and parsnips - you win some - you lose some I suppose. At the moment they are waging war on purple sprouting broccoli and spinach beet - as quick as it grows they peck it away until I net it and then it recovers a it so I can rotate it a bit. They have eaten lavender, but turn their noses up at rosemary and mint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 They did turn their noses up at the leeks, but they have now chomped quite a few tops off and we have had to barricade the sides. Sometimes I know they have reached through because I can smell that oniony aroma from the back door. Little oiks! So far the little garlic that has sprouted from last year (!?) has been left well alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Well I think I'll have a go, nothing to loose really!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 The secret is to give plants chance to grow a bit - seedlings don't stand a chance. Whenever mine got access to the veg beds the established plants seemed OK but I lost loads of seedlings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
