Nacktschnecken omlet Cube

[alexsampson]

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

[redcharlie43]

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.

[Minty_76]

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?

[majuka]

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

[surfer_chicken]

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!

[Mum]

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?

[keyhole kate]

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

[Minty_76]

Bantams are definitely grass destroyers contrary to belief! My 3 got rid of the grass in their run in a week

[alexsampson]

 

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.

[Sam]

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.

[Olly]

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.

[emmastar]

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

[Space Chick]

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

[reneepren]

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

[Guest]

Hi Alex,

 

I suspect the only Chickens that won't mess up your garden don't live there. I

 

 

 

Hahaha I so agree!

[alexsampson]

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

[Leicester_H]

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

[heth1986]

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.