[mom2x]

is it a good idea to let chickens roam in our veggie garden? i am thinking it would help w/ bug control and healthier eggs. i am wondering if there is any worry about their droppings in our food, though - disease and wierd bird germies, yk? we are real new at this and these are still hypothetical chickens, but i need to plan where to put them - so thanks!

 

[AJP]

I don't let my chickens in the veggie garden. They're too destructive, scratching up everything, pooping all over, etc.. They would be helpful with eating pests, but I don't have a big pest problem, so it's not worth it to me. They do less damage to mature plants, but small ones or seedlings get decimated. A chicken tractor set up can work, where they can be contained on garden beds you want prepped for planting but that currently don't have any plants you want to save.

I've heard that ducks are better for pest control in gardens, because they don't scratch things up, they only hunt for insects, but I don't have ducks so haven't tried it.

 

[gottaknit]

I let my chickens roam in the garden, but I only have three of them. They are out and about for several hours a day, roaming the whole yard (1/4 acre).

My chickens don't seem to have an attention span that's long enough to do too much destruction in any one area.

They will peck at a tomato leaf once, then some imaginary thing will spook them and they'll go running like crazy to the other end of the yard, and start scratching around there instead.

The only problem I've had is with the corn. After I planted the seeds, they discovered them and scratched the area up and ate what they could find. I didn't bother to replant (I'm allergic to corn anyway - it's for DH), and it looks really spotty. Oh well, live and learn.

 

[Morganfyre]

At Murray McMurray hatchery they sell a specific breed of geese called "weeder geese" that are perfect for letting loose in your garden. You might want to contact them and ask them about the breed. I wouldn't let chickens anywhere near my garden, especially near red fruits/vegetables.

 

[calmom]

We don't have a garden yet at our new home but at our old house, I would let just a few chickens at a time dig around if I was with them. When the plants were big and tall, I didn't worry too much about it. I would never leave them alone in my garden though. I don't know what I would come back to.