CannyCat Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 (edited) Our poor, poor garden has been totally decimated since we got our chooks! Before: After: We're going to re-do the garden this spring. We're going to create a bigger wood and chicken-wire run (can't afford eglu extensions!) and put the eglu in that. Although they'll still get let out often enough I worry they get bored while I'm at work in that dinky run! My partner is going to grow some veg this summer. They're going to need to be in raised veggie beds, as our soil doesn't drain well (what soil we have left, that is ). Does anyone have experience of chicken proofing veggie beds? What's the best method? Also, can anyone give me some names of inexpensive plants which Chickens don't like to eat? Just "pretties"; something to inject a little greenery back into the mud-pit There's quite a large patio area just off the photo, so I hope to have lots of pots. (and in the unlikely event that there is a type of grass chickens don't like, PLEASE let me know!! ) Thanks, Catherine Edited May 21, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Hi Catherine i have raised beds and have just finished chicken proofing them! I bought a roll of chicken wire about 1.2 metres high and cut it in half down the middle, if you see what i mean? i then threaded the wire through bamboo canes and put them round the beds. They take 2 secs to pull out when i need to work on the bed. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 We had our veggie beds completely separate and behind trellis and Omlet netting. We had a Bay tree in the chickens area which they didn't eat They ate the lavender bushes though. You'll need to put large stones in the top of the pots to stop the hens rooting out all the soil and making dust baths in them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 The plastic mesh trellis type stuff on a roll is good too, especially the dark green as it sort of disappears. Homebase sell it and I think it's around £15-£20 a roll. Plants chickens don't eat??? You could try something a bit fierce like Berberis or Pyracantha I suppose?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 We need to be thinking about a more permanent run too, as our chooks always escape out of the run they currently have. Let us know how you get on though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SillyClucker Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Our garden is looking pretty grim as well. Omlet netting is great though you can pen off areas quickly and effectively without stressing the hens. Its quite expensive but IMO worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 They don't seem to like ornamental grasses much! Also hebes (unless they've just not got round to them yet ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 I've found that 2ft high plant pots helps!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 27, 2007 Share Posted January 27, 2007 Great photos! Successful plants here have been Castor oil, hebes, and rosemary. Good luck with the garden plans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 We had our veggie beds completely separate and behind trellis and Omlet netting. We had a Bay tree in the chickens area which they didn't eat They ate the lavender bushes though. You'll need to put large stones in the top of the pots to stop the hens rooting out all the soil and making dust baths in them. Thanks, I hadn't thought of that! (speaking of stones, does anyone else's chickens eat their pebble-dashing?!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Plant bamboos and tall grasses! But try to get a sample from some friends first, as all chickens are different. If they eat it, don't buy it. Mine don't touch acanthus either, but they gobble up hostas faster than slugs do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Reading this with interest as I want to plant something inside my hens pen, just to make it look nicer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Don't do it Sarah!!!! That's what I did - they ate 3 lavender bushes in a matter of days They only left the bay tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I have a fern and a vinca that they don't seem interested in. Oh, and a holly bush Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Also hebes (unless they've just not got round to them yet ) Trust me, they love hebes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Also hebes (unless they've just not got round to them yet ) Trust me, they love hebes! Oh dear Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I have tazmainian tree fern, bamboo's, grasses (our garden is like a jungle ) my girls like picking at the grasses in pots (I DID have a nice bright blue grass which they pecked to death). But the bamboo's and ferns in the ground they dont peck the leaves - they just hang around waiting to catch the spiders and cretins that lurk on them! Im going to put all my smaller potted stuff into higher pots this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lynn in Bristol Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 We have a couple of bamboos in our chicken's part of the garden (ie the largest part). The chickens like to eat these, but can only reach the lower leaves, and the bamboo is so fast growing that they achieve a balance. Also, it's quite entertaining watching them jump up to reach the higher bits. As they don't often get to go on the lawn, especially in winter, at least they're getting their 'greens'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linda H Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 I think all chickens must have different tastes or perhaps it is to do with the time of year and new growth in the spring time. Our 2 had ignored the cyclamen till last weekend when the decimated them, ate all the leaves but left the flowers! The now look very odd. Plants that have been ignored so far are pieris, rhodendrons, hebes, lavander, box, cotinus (smoke bush), skimia and choisya. All well established before the chickens arrived which may have something to do with it. Things they have totally destroyed are; any ground cover, if the dont eat it they dig it up looking for slugs etc) Pansies, polyanthus The grass is not suffering quite so much since we moved the chooks to their winter quarters on the patio with bark under the run. We no longer have to cross the grass to get to them so a lot less human traffic has helped. Good luck with the garden ps window boxes are not safe from the hungry chicken, Henrietta takes a flying leap and lands in the window box, tramples around a bit then settles down to eat the lot! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xraylady Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 What about hanging baskets? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted January 30, 2007 Share Posted January 30, 2007 I am sure mine would launch themselves up to get at them somehow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CannyCat Posted February 1, 2007 Author Share Posted February 1, 2007 Thanks so much guys! I've written all this down and I'm compiling a list for my redesign A woman at a small family-owned garden centre also said they won't eat heather, although they will probably scratch it to smithereens... Has anyone tried them with rhubarb? (You know, they even ate my aloe vera...) Does anyone know of a good book or website on garden design? That is, designs for "working" gardens, as opposed to ornamental gardens? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrookhamChooks Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Has anyone tried them with rhubarb? My two hooligans haven't eaten our rhubarb yet ........ they are allowed out for a couple of hours every afternoon and scratch around the new shoots but no damage so far. Perhaps they know rhubarb leaves are poisonous? or they've had little nibble and found they taste nasty? I wasn't very happy when I found them leaping up to grab the buds off the azalea, though Bad girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted February 2, 2007 Share Posted February 2, 2007 Mine seem to quite like the taste of rhubarb leaves so I've netted it off as I don't think it's that good for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 My partner is going to grow some veg this summer. They're going to need to be in raised veggie beds, as our soil doesn't drain well (what soil we have left, that is ). Does anyone have experience of chicken proofing veggie beds? What's the best method? Thanks, Catherine Its taken me ages to finally work out how to paste a photo, but here goes! It isnt the prettiest of things, but its in the veg garden and at least the girls can't wreck it! You just pull the bamboo stakes out when you need to get to the bed, really simple. Good luck with your veggies - if you need seeds, there is a seed swap post in the self-sufficient life section C x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
