alexsampson Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Hi Guys, I am planning on getting chickens soon and just needed something clearing up by the experts. You see, my parents are sort of garden proud but really if I'm honest its the gardeners who come to do the garden who are really garden proud So...are there are chickens that don't completley mess up the garden? If not, how much do they mess it up? Thanks Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redcharlie43 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Hi Alex, I suspect the only Chickens that won't mess up your garden don't live there. I am/was quite proud of my garden but the girls wreck it if they are let out or manage to escape. I have now confined them to their own area but when they make a bid for complete freedom I certainly know they have got out. Especially when it comes to getting some herbs from the herb garden which i really thought would be chicken proof they seem to be able to climb, jump and genuinely cause mischief but I wouldn't change that now I have them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Alex, why not ask your parents if there is a little section of garden you can keep the chickens in? You could have your very own chicken enclosure fenced off perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I think sectioning off an area is advisable. You should see the holes my girls have dug under the swing, one day I'll fall down and break my ankle I'm sure that bantam owners will correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that some bantams do less scratching and digging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfer_chicken Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I'm sure that bantam owners will correct me if I am wrong, but I am under the impression that some bantams do less scratching and digging I don't own bantams so I don't know if the rumours that they (and feathered footed chickens) scratch less are true- but (correct me if I'm wrong) all chickens definitely like to eat every plant they see! Sometimes they'll avoid a plant for a few years but eventually they work out it's worth eating, leaving you with bare branches. Therefore, if your parents at all garden proud it's worth negotiating an area to keep the chickens in, or the garden'll look like mine! : That was after two years of chicken keeping, but to be honest it was like that after one year We've since made the chicken area smaller and cover it with wood chips so it looks a little nicer: We use omlet netting to keep them in, the only problem is they are amazing escape artists and manage to find a way out about once every fortnight, so it doesn't completely stop them destroying the garden. The best way to keep them is a WIR (walk in run), but that will add extra to the cost of getting chickens (most would say worth it- but I'm in the same position and I can't persuade my parents it is ) I'm sure someone lovely will come along and post some pictures of their WIR for you. Good luck bringing them round! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Hi Guys, I am planning on getting chickens soon and just needed something clearing up by the experts. You see, my parents are sort of garden proud but really if I'm honest its the gardeners who come to do the garden who are really garden proud So...are there are chickens that don't completley mess up the garden? If not, how much do they mess it up? Thanks Alex Maybe your parents could speak with the gardeners and see about fencing off an area (depending on how many girls you can persuade them into keeping ) Pekin bantams are reputed to cause the least "damage" to the terrain, but, in all honesty, once they find a spot they decide they want to dust-bath in, they can be as determined as the best scratchers! To be fair though, that reputation is deserved, but only by degrees; they will peck, scratch and tug at grass and plants along with the rest of breeds - it just takes them a day or two longer to cause as much damage I'm very lucky that I have a walk-in-run (WIR) where they spend their time when I can't supervise their free-ranging times. It's plenty big enough for them and the base area is not meant to be a pretty green grass because I use Auboise as a litter. Then, I do have a large garden (which I'm slowly but surely turning into a garden of pleasure) which my girls have access to when I'm around. The back third of my garden is a "rough" area where we have planted fruit trees, fruit bushes and other sundries and that is the area my girls adore the most!! They rummage and root around, scratch and dustbath to their hearts delight - but then, it's not an area I'm trying to cultivate into a garden-proud show piece. How large is your garden and how many girls do you hope to persuade your parents to permit you to keep? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keyhole kate Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Tbh the only way to keep your garden nice is either keep them in a seperate area which didn't work for me as even with clipped wings they always got over the omlet fencing or keep them permenantly enclosed in a WIR which is what I now have. I wish I had done this from the begining as they completely destroyed my garden but I wouldnt be without them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Minty_76 Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 Bantams are definitely grass destroyers contrary to belief! My 3 got rid of the grass in their run in a week Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexsampson Posted January 21, 2012 Author Share Posted January 21, 2012 How large is your garden and how many girls do you hope to persuade your parents to permit you to keep? Its quite a large garden and I am hoping to get three or four chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 I guess if you have gardeners it's quite a big garden... so I'd suggest sectioning off a part of the garden. We did that, and let them out a few times a week and we still have grass which looks pretty much the same as the rest of the grass which the chickens haven't been on! We have had 3/4 hybrids for a year now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted January 21, 2012 Share Posted January 21, 2012 The worst damage is from scratching/digging, rather than eating, although hens will certainly demolish tender plants and they have a natural preference for vegetables, seedlings, tomatoes etc! If you have a large garden, and I'm guessing that if you have gardeners it's quite large, then you should be able to let them free-range for a couple of hours a day without much damage to the lawn etc, but they will eat some things and they will kick earth or gravel over the paths, scratch pot-plants out of their pots and so on. The other problem is that they will deposit chicken-poop liberally wherever they go, this includes paths, patios and garden furniture! Your best bet would be to have a separate area for them - a 'rough' area with longer grass, or an orchard, or anywhere under trees is ideal. You could just use Omlet netting to keep them in the chosen area, and move it around every time, or you could fence off a bit permanently. Be aware however that this won't be fox-proof, and they'll need supervision for their own safety. I think I would speak to the gardeners first, get them on your side, because it's going to impact on their work quite a bit! Chickens are great for disposing of slugs, snails and bugs and they will produce fabulous compost, so you may find you can persuade them ... then work on the parents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmastar Posted January 22, 2012 Share Posted January 22, 2012 My garden is hard work now i have the girls fr all the time but it can be done . I have 10 girls in my good sized garden and allthough they do eat the grass i have a section that has barkchip and i throw corn and mealworms on there then rake it over they spend houres going through it so keeps them ocupied for ages , my borders have sufered and thats down to my silkies there always in there digging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 My garden is a complete wreck not a blade of grass left And I have enough holes to resemble a muddy moon surface My Silkies and Wyandotte bantams are as guilty of digging as my large fowl girls. Would I have it any other way though.... Not on your nelly!! I used to have a lovely lawn, nice borders, and I hated spending time in the garden..... Now I have a giant mud bath with two walk in runs and love being out there with the girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reneepren Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 They do less damage if only free ranging a limited time each day. Of course they will destroy the grass in the run. But I put turf protector down under my lawn which prevents them scratching up the roots and the lawn has done fine since. I keep the flowers veggies and herbs behind omlet netting. This works beautifully. They keep the borders weed free and do no damage to established roses....I let mine free range 8 hours a day most days and it looks great. Also you rarely have to mow as they trim the grass. Renee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Hi Alex, I suspect the only Chickens that won't mess up your garden don't live there. I Hahaha I so agree! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexsampson Posted January 23, 2012 Author Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks for all this guys, it seems the gardeners might have some little helpers (hopefully) and also a new little hinderence. Oh well...best of both worlds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted January 23, 2012 Share Posted January 23, 2012 Thanks for all this guys, it seems the gardeners might have some little helpers (hopefully) and also a new little hinderence. Oh well...best of both worlds Its IMPOSSIBLE to garden (or do any serious work) with chickens around your feet!! They're so quick to move it can be dangerous (one of mine nearly lost its head!!!) Garden damage - depends so much on the actual hens - mine aren't too bad - they're allowed to dig/scratch in certain areas and KNOW when they're in the wrong areas and about to be chased off. If you have space for a chook area- that would be best. H Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heth1986 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Silkies are good for not ruining the garden, cute, nice to look at and very entertaining BUT... if you want lots of eggs don't even go there, I found out the hard way! On the other hand though, I still have grass in their FR area and never had any problems with them demoloshing the rest of the garden when they came out to play. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
