Chickens in the garden

[Rick589]

Do you let your chickens into the garden? Is it a mistake or a benefit, or a bit of both?

 

[TOMTE]

Do you let your chickens into the garden? Is it a mistake or a benefit, or a bit of both?

Chickens can and will destroy gardens, but I think it depends on types of plants, and stage of growth. Dad and I only had tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers growing in the garden this summer. By the time the girls were old enough to be let out of the run and into the garden, the plants were well established so that even when they were picked at, it didn't do enough damage to kill them.

I wouldn't let a flock of chickens into a garden of sprouting plants or delicate plants. Unless the garden is specifically for the chickens. They'll dig everything up and pick the plants to shreds

 

[Rick589]

Chickens can and will destroy gardens, but I think it depends on types of plants, and stage of growth. Dad and I only had tomatoes, green beans, and cucumbers growing in the garden this summer. By the time the girls were old enough to be let out of the run and into the garden, the plants were well established so that even when they were picked at, it didn't do enough damage to kill them.

I wouldn't let a flock of chickens into a garden of sprouting plants or delicate plants. Unless the garden is specifically for the chickens. They'll dig everything up and pick the plants to shreds

Understood. I do know that we CANNOT let them near our blueberries and strawberries. We planted a fall crop of peas and noticed that the chickens milled around in them but really didn’t damage much at all, the peas were mature plants at that point.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Letting chickens into your annual garden at the end of the growing season is a great way to "clean up". They'll eat leftover produce, plants, weeds, bugs, and the like while turning and fertilizing the soil.

Of course, any perennials you'll want to protect or the birds will dig them up.

 

[Eroica]

I agree with @Red-Stars-in-RI. It's a great idea to let your chickens into the yard at the end of the harvest - however, keep in mind that some plants (like tomatoes and potatoes) are poisonous to chickens.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I agree with @Red-Stars-in-RI. It's a great idea to let your chickens into the yard at the end of the harvest - however, keep in mind that some plants (like tomatoes and potatoes) are poisonous to chickens.

The good news is that chickens are typically quite good at NOT eating things that are toxic.

I don't know that I've ever seen a verified report of a chicken dying from eating something like a tomato or potato plant...they'd likely get a bit sick and stop well before consuming a lethal dose, unless the toxic plant was the ONLY thing available to eat.

That being said, it certainly couldn't hurt to pull those plants out ahead of time and toss them in a compost pile the birds don't have access to!

 

[Eroica]

The good news is that chickens are typically quite good at NOT eating things that are toxic.

I don't know that I've ever seen a verified report of a chicken dying from eating something like a tomato or potato plant...they'd likely get a bit sick and stop well before consuming a lethal dose, unless the toxic plant was the ONLY thing available to eat.

That being said, it certainly couldn't hurt to pull those plants out ahead of time and toss them in a compost pile the birds don't have access to!

Yeah, sometimes chickens can be dumb, but you're right - generally, they do avoid things that are poisonous for them.