Chickens in the Garden
By Gillie
Sussex,
United Kingdom
I love my friendly chickens and like having them free range but I would love any suggestions on plants they don't eat. Those they don't eat they dig up and jump on! So suggestions please
15 Jan, 2009
Answers
Hi Gillie, we only had two chickens we allowed them to wonder the garden free range , they became so friendly , they would come and tap on the kitchen porch door and wait for me to give them grapes which they loved , they were black rocks , as soon as it was dusk they rushed back to their enclosure and hut to roost for the night , two lovely fresh eggs each day , sadly we no longer have them , I would like another couple but as we like to get away sometimes now it means getting someone to look after them .
Yes they do scrap up everything in site , and I can,t tell you of anything much that they won,t have a go at , but to see them wondering free happily grubbing about , I don,t know I think one thing outways another .
They didn,t do to much damage to the lawn , they liked the flower and veg, garden better ,ours were called Milly and Molly .
Good luck with it x
17 Jan, 2009
Hi Amy
I would much rather have my chickens try and get into the house - they have managed it on a couple of occassions! than locked up. They may make me laugh. When they see me at a window they jump on to the window cill and knock. They have totally ruined the lawn but go with the flow and I am putting down more bark chippings. The veg patch is fenced offf!
Gill
17 Jan, 2009
Ours got in the kitchen a few times Gillie , the grandchildren thought it was so funny , They would run down the garden to see who would get the warmest egg first . If the eggs piled up I made lemon curd , very tasty .
We put bark down as well , they scrapped that about even more looking for the grubs underneath it lol..
You are making me want some more .. ......:o)
17 Jan, 2009
Hi
I wish that was true but my chickens are very naughty. I have had them for two years now and I know. They eat almost anything green there is a very short list of plants they don't eat ie roses, herbs, grasses almost anything else is food. They have scrapped up the lawn and I am replacing it with bark chippings. Go with the flow seems the only way as I like having them free range. One day I will write a book on gardening with chickens.
Gillie
16 Jan, 2009