2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Chortle Chook]

Were there any chillis on the plant? They must be a special Mexican breed

[chicken bark]

I have some Omlet netting but they are expert at ducking under it so it is of no use.

I found that with Omlet netting the secret is to pull the bottom black wire tight between posts one at at time. That way they cannot get under.

 

Thanks Pharaoh. I also find that the netting falls over all the time. Has anyone tried the corner posts?

 

I don't use the corner posts but do use guy ropes at the corners. Keeps it in place very well.

 

As for FR in a garden - it's a tricky one. Mine are in a large run 18m x 18m - from a distance it looks fine and it still covered with grass. Close up you can see it is very cratered. If that was all my garden I wouldn't want to share it with them as they would dominate and I'd have to poo pick and repair holes all the time. As it is I can just let them get on with it where they are.

[C&T]

I agree with others, in that for the summer things aren't too bad - providing you don't plant things like pansies and expect them to survive more than 5 minutes!

 

It is the winter months that can really do the damage, when nothing is growing, but the chickens keeps pecking and eating. The grass doesn't really stand a chance - unless you are lucky enough to have a large enough area so the problem is diluted. We don't, so they have much less time free ranging in Winter (the dark evenings help here!) and they are often shut into the veg patch when they are out. They get a good dig, and the veg patch is all cleaned up for me, and the grass is saved so a win-win-win situation!

 

Come Spring, they are locked back out of the veg patch, and have the rest of the garden to play in!

[chocolateeclaire]

I must also be one of the lucky ones!!

My 5 free range all the time and I have a rough bit of garden near the compost heap that they can trash and in return they leave the rest alone!! It is all a matter of training!!!!!

I power wash the drive and my lawn remains grassed!!

My garden isnt that big only about 80 x 30 foot. Perhaps I should set up a training school for you all!!!

Claire

[Chortle Chook]

Could it be down to the breed? On the Omlet breed section they do give ratings for garden friendliness. I read in one book that some breeds (my book said Orpingtons) are rather inclined to be lazy and do not do a lot of foraging, so are better with gardens even though they are large.

 

I have also read that those with feathered feet do not do much harm in the garden as they scratch less. My Silkies are just fine with my garden, however some Pekins I looked after for a bit for a friend were right little bulldozers. Even though they did not scratch much they trampled everything in sight.

 

Those of you who still have nice gardens, what breeds do you have?

[Woodcat]

my lot free range most of the tim in about 50 by 30 it's got flower beds round the edge and one big bed on one side and the rest is lawn. I not only have grass, its pretty lush grass aswell. It gets a little boggy in the winter but that is more because we are on clay and we walk on it alot. We have more problems with them breaking into the house than them destorying the garden.

[abwsco]

I know I've posted this pic before but we used to have grass all the way round to the WIR and coop on the left:lol:

 

 

[Luvachicken]

Oh dear, your poor grass

My garden is only 30' x 40' so not big at all and I love my grass even if it is full of weeds, so the girls only have their run and a little enclosed area to play in - but the last few days I have felt sorry for them so they have been out to play on the grass for about 10mins at most - how they chatter though when they come out - sweet.

 

As a treat though, I did rake all the leaves up for them and put them in their play area- lots of juicy caterpillars

[sparkysmum]

I would agree. My pekins & millefleur bantams seem to do almost no damage, however..............Boris my ex batt, araucana and faverolle all dig & scratch for Scotland.

[Foot-tapper506]

Hello

My 4 girls FR every weekend in the whole garden. The borders are being scratched out into the grass but at this time of year I dont mind as plants have all died off anyway. Grass is still OK after 6 months. Their own smaller FR area is a bit like the Somme though, I really have to watch my footing when I go in to see to them in the mornings as mud is very soft and slippery. Wouldn't be very dignified slipping over in my dressing gown and wellies!