I have a fenced garden, but I have another spot in the backyard that I would like to plant in. The problem is my free range hens seems to eat everything. It's not worth fencing this new area off so I could only plant something that would be left undisturbed. I was thinking maybe sweet potatoes or peanuts. Honestly, I would plant and enjoy eating almost anything that doesn't have to be fenced in. Does anyone have ANY suggestions.
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I have found success with using temporary fencing, specifically the "dog pen" fencing that comes in 8 sections. It is portable, cleanable, and I find it to be the best solution so far. I agree that fences are an eyesore. However, I would rather have an eyesore than replant and replace everything that has been devoured.
I utilize 2 of them in my smaller back yard, and it successfully deters my flock of 8 ducks and the 3 hens I just aquired.
We let ours out to free range for 1/2 to 1 hour a day and we have to watch them every minute and do a lot of hearding. We had to put wire barriers around the grape plants (they really love those) but our hope is that some day they will be big enough that the chickens can't destroy them. A few plants we have just given up on. One sweet potato they keep eating to the ground and one squash is in their traffic path and beaten down.
We find that if we hand feed them something when we first let them out it helps slow them down and we get to interact with them in a positive way.
I have really been struggling with this. I'm just starting to build my garden: A. the chickens eat everything in site. B. I hate fences. I planted grapes on a high post - I figure the chickens can eat whatever they can reach. The topsie turvey garden is the only other option I can come up with. Then I would run a drip line to the top for water, as I'm quite short.
When I asked Heather Welch about chickens in gardens, at the Permaculture Vegetable Class, she said that her chickens only eat a little bit of the plant. Has anyone seen that? Or is it always total devestation?
Paula Ortiz > Landy HeadleyJune 28, 2009 at 11:55am
My experience has been TOTAL devestation. I too hate fences, but have concluded that either the garden or the hens need to be fenced. For now it's the garden, but honestly, I think it makes more sense to fence the hens. That way I would be able to plant in nooks and crannies, not just the designated garden. Oh, and I also fenced my garden with a 3ft., cute, rod iron fence and they were able to fly over it (yes, their wings are clipped) I had to hang burlap above the fence and now it's no longer cute, and getting in and out is pain.
Don't let me scare you away from the chickens. They are adorable and a dependable source of food. Just take it all into consideration when planning for them.
dan straight > Landy HeadleyJune 27, 2009 at 7:27pm
they stripped my carrots and radishes to the ground, and ate the pepper plants to the stalks, got mine feced out now
good luck with that, we have 6 adult ducks and 4 duckling, they seem to want to try anything they can get their mouths on, it the don't eat it they will tear it up.
Mine have tasted everying from corn, squash, grapes, and even cactus. We have a low fence jsut to keep them out of the veg seem to work just the things in ducks rech seem to get tasted...
Thank you Ben and Rachel for your responses. I'm new to hen life and hadn't anticipated how disruptive they would be to a garden. I enjoy having the girls free range and lucky for them, I quickly fell in love. I just dislike fencing and caging everything I grow. I guess I could plant a fruit tree (maybe even two) in the space. To do so I would need to cut down a large queen palm that is there. Great idea, thank you both!
Hi Paula - I would try looking at building up a canopy system of fruit trees - Bananas, Papayas, above pineapple quava, dwarf peach/apricot combo trees. Pomegranite can be trimmed so that it hangs like an umbrella and you can grow many tree types espalier-style against wall. Plant lushly with garlic/shallots around base of trees. I'm not sure about a chilli/garlic mixture with chickens, but it sure works great with bugs.
How about a trellis/ramada ladder for grapes/passion fruit vines? Topsy-turvy or hanging tomato plants/bell peppers where able can add vertical harvests. How about the front yard?
Thanks, Dana great ideas! I do use the front yard as well as the back. I'm just in awe at how fast they will eat ANYTHING that is not well blocked off. Last year when I gardened I had plantings sprinkeled throughout the yard. This year that just can't happen...
the chickens will eat the garlic/shallots and then have weird tasting eggs, that's a no go. :)
The grapes and pomegranates are easy to grow here and don't require as much water as a lot of other fruit trees, so those especially would be a great addition. You will have to protect everything with a cage until it grows taller than beak height (which is measured when the chicken is jumping in the air to eat your favorite plants!) :)
Replies
I utilize 2 of them in my smaller back yard, and it successfully deters my flock of 8 ducks and the 3 hens I just aquired.
We find that if we hand feed them something when we first let them out it helps slow them down and we get to interact with them in a positive way.
When I asked Heather Welch about chickens in gardens, at the Permaculture Vegetable Class, she said that her chickens only eat a little bit of the plant. Has anyone seen that? Or is it always total devestation?
Don't let me scare you away from the chickens. They are adorable and a dependable source of food. Just take it all into consideration when planning for them.
Mine have tasted everying from corn, squash, grapes, and even cactus. We have a low fence jsut to keep them out of the veg seem to work just the things in ducks rech seem to get tasted...
How about a trellis/ramada ladder for grapes/passion fruit vines? Topsy-turvy or hanging tomato plants/bell peppers where able can add vertical harvests. How about the front yard?
Just some ideas.
The grapes and pomegranates are easy to grow here and don't require as much water as a lot of other fruit trees, so those especially would be a great addition. You will have to protect everything with a cage until it grows taller than beak height (which is measured when the chicken is jumping in the air to eat your favorite plants!) :)
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