$&*%^@**$ Chickens!

Chopper Mon 23 Jun 2014 - 0:27

I never really knew the level chickens would go to to purposely vent their displeasure at having their food stolen by squirrels. I have table tops in a paddock shared by the chickens but even that was not enough. Below is some of the damage. I finally bought bird netting. At first I thought my cauliflower has worms/caterpillars until I saw a squash pulled out and just laying there. Worms don't do that.

But the worst was my beautiful zucchini that I figured was too big to be destroyed. I was wrong. They broke the leaves on the stems and ate the fruit. I surrounded it with shade cloth in the likely vain hope it might be saved. The little rats can fly up pretty high as it turns out.

$&*%^@**$ Chickens! Dscf4010

The leaves are decimated

$&*%^@**$ Chickens! Dscf4011

They are currently planning how to get through the barrier

**AtlantaMarie** Mon 23 Jun 2014 - 5:35

Oh, Chopper... I'm so sorry...

We had friends who's chickens roosted in the trees. So, yes, they can get up pretty high.

And chickens like plenty of greens & veggies - double whammy with the squirrels.

**Turan** Mon 23 Jun 2014 - 9:28

Aren't they just darling little garden exterminators?! Evil or Very Mad

I find that some breeds, usually the lighter breeds, fly more and higher and are more nervous so more likely to take flight and realize they can fly high for yummies too.
I just raised the garden fence to 4' in hopes to keep them out. They can fly higher but the mesh is not highly visible so they miss calculate and fly into it. Thus they think there is an invisible wall there. I hope they do not learn other wise. I will be gone for 2 weeks and do not want to come home to a rearranged garden.

southern gardener Mon 23 Jun 2014 - 15:49

oh man, I'm sorry Sad

What variety are they? they're cool looking! I always wonder when people say they have pests in the garden, and people recommend letting their chickens into the garden if they truly know what chickens are capable of??
We have had the same results as you!! They eat everything, pull up plants dig holes...no good!!

FeedMeSeeMore Tue 24 Jun 2014 - 11:36

If chickens eat your garden veggies, will they lay those green eggs Dr. Seuss wrote about?
Okay, okay. I'll leave now. tongue

But first! Those are cute chickens and I'd still like to have some one day.
I'm done.

Pollinator Tue 24 Jun 2014 - 13:53

southern gardener wrote:oh man, I'm sorry What variety are they? they're cool looking! I always wonder when people say they have pests in the garden, and people recommend letting their chickens into the garden if they truly know what chickens are capable of??
We have had the same results as you!! They eat everything, pull up plants dig holes...no good!!

Mine get to go into garden beds only when there's no crop. They get rid of grubs and fertilize them. They also tend to throw some soil out of the beds, but you can't have everything, right?

Dunkinjean Tue 24 Jun 2014 - 18:51

Your chickens look as though they have eaten a lot of veg's - nice and plump! Very Happy

Chopper Sun 29 Jun 2014 - 21:58

They are cute. I have three Buff Brahmas, and one each of Barred Rock, Sicilian Buttercup and Cuckoo Moran.

Turns out I spoke too soon. They did wreck the zucchini but the cauliflower is something else. I have since added a fence. We shall see...

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