markymarque Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 At the weekend im going to let the 3 ladies out, my garden is medium size, it has a 5 foot deep pond which is raised by just over 3 foot, there are no flower beds, just loads of pots, lawn and gravel. There’s a couple of holes at the back of the garden where the cats go into next door (to do there position), there’s lots of interest for them in garden, are they likely to try and get into things they can’t get out of. Also what about the pond. And in the pots I used those fertiliser graduals, will they eat them? Thanks Again Mark Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueandwhite Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Hi I think they would go through the holes, I would cover them, the cats will find another way. I think ponds are quite a hazard for chickens, I'm sure I've read on here they can drown so I would put some netting over it or that rigid pond cover stuff you can get from aquatic centres (or maybe DIY shops/garden centres). As for the lawn - I now only really have mud, but still hoping it may grow back in Spring (and as I have such a small garden the lawn is actually all covered in chicken wire to stop them digging it up but they can still eat it!) They love grubbing about in the borders and have two dust baths, one of which survived all the snow and ice as it was so well insulated with shrubs (which they didn't eat). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateCooke Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Can really recommend the chicken netting sold my omlet, it can be made permanant with some wooden stakes next to teh metal poles, or just moved around the garden to suit your needs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I'd definately cover up the holes plus how high is the wall/fencing around your garden as they might try and get over that. Also, for your first time it's best to let them out under supervision about half an hour before bed time then they know where to go to get back to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I'd definitely block up any exit points. They will find them. Re the pond, if it is shallow sided, it shouldn't be too much of a problem, if it is deep it might be. You could fence it off, or place rocks around the edge so that they can clamber out. One or 2 form members have had hens drown in deep ponds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LolaLayla Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 I agree with KateCooke about the omlet netting, it has really saved the garden! I also agree about filling in holes because even if they don't spot them at first they will eventually. They will probably jump onto the top of the pots and have a good s"Ooops, word censored!"e about. I had a rhubarb plant in a very large pot that was totally destroyed by my two girls and other pot plants came to grief. As they seem to have a go at eating most things I would be a bit concerned that they would have a go at the fertiliser pellets. I would check the packaging to see if they are ok for animals to eat. With regards the pond we have a wild life pond that is quite shallow and they did not seem to have a problem with that but they cannot get in that area now as I thought that they were probably munching on little frogs around there. I think we have the best of both worlds now as part of the garden is tidyish and the other part is not, due to my excavating girls! On the plus side it is amazing what the girls have unearthed in the wilder parts of their enclosed area...golf balls, a water pistol, a frisbee...to name a few things the children have lost over the years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markymarque Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 this the garden, the pond is a straight drop 5 foot deep, it does have a heron protection on it, 4 lines of fishing wire, the only place they can escape is at the back of the conifers, but there is a wire fence behind that, which has the holes in it, but that simple enough to block off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 What a lovely garden, wished my lawn, no better word grass, still looked liked that. I have a pond too and although it has a shallow bit I am going to net over it, the girls have never gone near it but got in a total flap at the neighbours cat today and charged right up under the carport so I am worried that they might fall in if they were scared and ran that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 26, 2011 Share Posted January 26, 2011 Oooh, your garden looks lovely and you've got grass and pots for them to jump in and scratch all the contents everywhere I won't fighten you off and post pics of what our lawn looks like now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markymarque Posted January 26, 2011 Author Share Posted January 26, 2011 thank you, all the pots are empty now as i only do bedding plants, the pond fishing wire stops mr heron wadding in to the pond so the ladies hopefully wont fall in. They will only be wondering whilst im in the garden at weekends, i have seen on ebay those fold away puppy/chicken runs with a lid on, so summer i might get one and move it around the grass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LizzieLloyd Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 We have a 6000 gallon 6ft deep pond in our garden and have never had a problem with the girls falling in. They have jumped up onto the wall and looked at it a few times but they are far too busy scratching around for goodies in the rest of the garden. My only word of warning would be to keep an eye on them when you are feeding the fish. They get hugely excited when they hear the rattle of fish food in the tub and I have to distract them whilst I throw food into the pond (they think they are missing out on something yummy!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markymarque Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 That a good point Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tallulah Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I'd also add check out what plants are poisonous to your chooks cos they will get in your pots....we let ours free-range for a bit on the garden and one of them tucked into the rhubarb, which can be very harmful to them. Certainly our ladies don't seem to know whats good for them and what isn't! She was very lethargic for a few days, couldn't even get her to eat sweetcorn put in front of her, it was like the light was on but no-one was home. It was incredibly scarey and worrying, and it was only when she fell ill that we did research on the web on plants that were bad for them and we realised what had happened. Lovely garden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markymarque Posted January 27, 2011 Author Share Posted January 27, 2011 This is quite handy http://www.merrydalepoultry.co.uk/chicken_care.htm#PlantsPoisonoustoChickens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I am with envy of your lovely garden I wouldn't dare post a picture of my muddy battlefield soon to be re vamped I too have pond but have a cover that we bought with it as my grandsons were small at the time we put the pond in once when we had the cover off a greedy chicken did slip in trying to reach the pond pellets but managed to flap back to the edge I have kept the cover on ever since as I witnessed it and realised it was more luck that she got out than anything else for me personally it's not worth the worry. I used to have pots too sadly they are no more the contents were either very quickly devoured or expertly dug out and chucked on the patio even though there wings are clipped and I have omlet netting but I still love the little darlings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted January 27, 2011 Share Posted January 27, 2011 I have a tub as a pond. It is very small and has a net over it to stop leaves from clogging it all up. It did have 3 little gold fish in it. Now there are just two as one of my little Silkies managed to eat one which had come to the surface to eat. I saw her doing it, the monster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markymarque Posted January 28, 2011 Author Share Posted January 28, 2011 What about flying do you think they will jump the fence, i heard that welsumers are not good at flying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
