cluckbok Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 to protect your borders? We've got a small patch of ground underneath the kitchen window, with hostas, herbs etc. There is soil covered with thick slate chunks around the planting. Last year the chooks didn't really bother with it but now they know there's lovely soil under there they are racking it up all over the place! and digging big holes. What do you think would be best to keep them off? Was thinking some chicken wire with bamboo canes? Not gonna look pretty but best do it to give the plants a chance, the hostas are just beginning to sprout! Any other ideas omleteers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Over individual plants we use upturned empty wire hanging baskets and around the borders we have planks of wood to stop them throwing soil everywhere. If you want to protect a whole border though chicken wire and canes is the best way not too bad with green chicken wire that is reasonably cheap in Wilkinsons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Truthfully? I don't let the chickens out any more. They have their own bit of garden at the bottom of the garden and a big walk in run. At the end of a year and a half of 16 hens free-ranging I had not a forget me not or fuschia left in the back garden. The Omlet netting is supposed to be good though and apparently you can now buy a battery pack and electrify it BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 B&Q have some nice dark green canes which blend in nicely in borders. I got a pack of 15 for £1 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Only yesterday OH and me decided it was time to give the flowers a chance so we have put cane fencing around our borders, just high enough to keep the girls out, but not too tall that we can't see the lovely flowers the other side. We think it looks very pretty as well. I paid £7 for a 3ft length which we then cut in half to get the right height. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 I bought some plastic garden net and canes and today they just pushed holes through it So I put the omlet netting up and they flew/jumped onto a bush behind it and their wings are clipped! So I moved it back and Grackle is sitting with her head cocked eyeing it up and working out another way to get across. Good luck, they are wicked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 Hmmm that's given me food for thought some good ideas there guys thanks for your replies. Will probably pop over to B & Q and check out what they got, that'll put a stop to the little hooligans They are very cunning aren't they! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 we gave up...the borders died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted April 14, 2009 Author Share Posted April 14, 2009 They are soooo naughty cause they have lots of other borders to go on that have big trees and bushes with exposed soil and yet the little monsters choose the herb garden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Mine were already fenced off, dogs can do a pretty good job of trashing a garden to. got green stuff all around one edge & 2 oval patches. they scratch freely in the other where there are shrubs large perennials protected by their own circle of wire.AND have discovered that mine don't touch primula or cowslip.! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drcara Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 Whatever you do, don't buy pea and bean netting, as we just found out to our cost. They just walk straight through it! I've subsequently bought fruit netting which has worked and doesn't look so unappealing against the borders. Sylvie however has spent all evening pressing her head at the bottom of the netting trying to find a weak spot to put herself through. Once they've found a way through, you've had it. All my seedlings in my veg patch have been over turned in 3 minutes of going in to make a up of coffee. Devils!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 My veggie partch also fenced. long thin garden gate either end, got garden fencing about 4ft high. have had to learn to plant away rom edges or put barrier up until plants bigger as heas go through. Mine wouldnt touch brussels or any leaves or any new leaves but today they found one leaning over in reach and guess what they were doing? monkeys! I kept bolting sprouts just for them to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Another thing to do, is to go for plants they don't like and which are trashed by being stood on by big chicken feet. I've discovered they don't like roses, leathery leafed shrubs, rosemary, foxgloves, primroses ...... I think there's a list somewhere on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 I gave up and don't let mine in the garden when anything is growing. I got fed up of my beloved garden looking like Steptoe's Yard with hanging baskets, folding trellis, plastic mesh, canes and random items protecting the plants. I also got fed up of poo on the patio. If the slug and snail problem gets too bad this summer I might let them out on supervised visits but not until things that grown to a scratch resistent heigh! Jo PS Poundstretcher is good for things like folding trellis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
