Keeping chickens off the deck? Scare them away?

[PBlanck]

We live in the city and I let my chickens free range roughly 50% of the time. We built a new deck off of our kitchen with stairs going down into the yard.

The hens keep coming up the stairs and pooping. It is really starting to piss off my wife (who is not a big fan of the chickens).

I don't want to put up a gate because 1) there is no easy location for one and 2) I don't want to hassle with a gate when going down into the yard.

Is there a way to scare them away? A statue of a hawk or something? We do have owls and hawks in our area, so I don't want to de-sensitize them towards real predators, but if a statue of an owl at the top of the steps would keep them from coming up it might make for an easy solution and a funny story.

Any thoughts?

 

[SueT]

Well it's worth a try. But once they get to know this fake owl, they may just ignore it. When I let mine free range, they like to come up on the porch and look in the glass sliding door. I enjoy it. I just go out later and wash off any poop.

 

[Allie Grace Sanders]

We had to spray them with hose during the summer. It does no harm, and is effective. We will still occasionally find a pile of poo though.

 

[Folly's place]

Fencing, and no positive events on the deck.
Mary

 

[Stayc]

I have a deck broom and sweep it for my hubby who is no fan of the chicken poop by his grill! The cold temps make my job easier. If its frozen to the deck just give it a kick with the front of your boot. Away it goes. Leaves help with the goopy poop. Dont know if u can keep them out. I would suggest a baby gate if u don't want them up there. Best of luck

 

[tigger19687]

I just had some left over plastic fencing that was 2 feet high, maybe 1-1/2 high. I put it at the bottom of the 1st step and just walk over it to get up the stairs. They have yet to even try .... Of course they have to go by the stairs to go to the yard so maybe they don't care because there are bugs in the yard??

I no longer have to put up the fence. They watch me walk in and out of the house past them to the carport. They LOOK like they want to try it, but don't. I DO give them Verbal warnings NOT to even think about it

 

[chickens really]

Electric mesh garden or poultry fence will deter them..