Boybeck Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I've had enough of the mess in the garden left by my three chickens so I'm planning to build a run to keep them contained but give them more space than the eglu run. They've been used to free-ranging all day, so now I've put them in a cornered off area of the garden they are making quite a bit of noise, almost as if they are calling me to be let out. It's making me feel slightly guilty! Do you think they'll calm down eventually? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I think so. Ours went into a run the back-end of last year, after spending the summer free-ranging and trashing the garden. They gave out for a while but then settled. We have three. One thing we've done which helped with MY guilt was to buy some chicken fencing and we've sectioned off two borders adjacent to the run. This gives them a free-range area when we leave the run door open. Those borders are also totally weed free now as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheCoop Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 We were the same. We used to let our 3 have complete free range of our back garden, but we got very fed up with poo everywhere and the fact that they would eat everything and dig everything up, so we got some wire and penned them in. I don't recall them making noise about it, but they pretty soon got used to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Yup, same here . My 3 went into a walk in run a few weeks ago (see my signature ) and are confined to freeranging in the flowerbeds - although given the choice they seem to like spending time in the run . I have my garden back and can even walk in it in bare feet if I so wish . Have you checked out this thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Those borders are also totally weed free now as well! HI only had mine 2 weeks in a wir and am amazed at the weed clearance they have acheived down to the roots in the soil(I mean how great ) but not so great if its everywhere I wouldnt feel at all guilty mine have not been out and have plenty of room/comfort and all their needs etc so they are staying put. Be tough as mine still eyeball me and they havent even been out..I do give them my time when it suits me ie sit in their with them etc...so am sure they will get use to it Good luck indie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Just to re-iterate the above really. Mine had free range of the whole garden up until Feb when I got fed up of the poo they left whilst camping out by the patio door. I fenced them off to the back of the garden and they seem quite content. I don`t have to mow that bit of grass and it is now moss and weed free Then I built WIR (well OH and FIL did). They created a bit of fuss if I shut them in and they could see us in the house but I am shutting them in for a few hours at a time even whilst I am in the garden and although they still make a bit of fuss they are getting used to it. In fact I panic if they are in WIR and I can`t see them pacing at the gate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 I feel guilty when I see the mess they dig up in the borders, but mum doesn't mind! Actually, she's been waiting for this one special little flower to grow for about 5 years , she bought it from some flower show, and it finally flowered ;dance: and Yolko ate it!!!!!!!!!!!! And all she said was ' It's okay, If it can't live through the chickens then, frankly, it can go' I'm glad I have an understanding Parent! Good Luck with the new WIR, I'd love one but the garden isn't big enough so the just free range each day. They do eat the weeds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Ditto. Last straw this afternoon when the blighters demolished a very nice hosta that for once hadn't been got at by slugs. I didn't think they were interested in it - but today . . . down to Homebase and got some flimsy netting to cordon off the patio area and some of the path. We would like some area free of poosie woosies, and a few flowers too - just as long as I remember and don't go flying when I take a trayful of greenhouse plants to the patio to harden off (a very likely scenario). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted April 26, 2009 Share Posted April 26, 2009 Do you think they'll calm down eventually? Yes, sure they will. Same here. One whole summer freeranging entire garden, camping out by the back door (and pooping there too) and hubbie had had enough. Omlet fencing now encloses them in a quarter of the garden and they just get on with it. But it won't stop them trying to make you feel guilty. My lot pace up and down the run to be let out. Then if I poke my head out the back door, they pace up and down the omlet fencing to get my attention..... can't win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
