Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Scaring the chickens away
• Part 2 of 3: Keeping the chickens out of your yard
• Part 3 of 3: Luring the chickens to another place
• Necessities

If you've ever had stray chickens wreaking havoc in your yard, then you know how much damage they can do in a short amount of time. However, there are things you can do to stop chickens from trampling, scratching or pecking plants.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Scaring the chickens away

1. Spray water on the chickens. If you see chickens walking into your yard, quickly spray some water on them with a garden hose. Make sure the water pressure is not too high so that you scare the chickens without hurting them.
   • The chickens usually come back shortly after you spray water on them for the first time. However, if you keep spraying water on them, they will associate your garden with the water and avoid it.
   • Since you're not always in the garden, you probably won't catch the chickens every time. That is why you might consider installing garden sprinklers with motion sensors to spray the chickens when you are not there.
2. Sprinkle spices on the area you want to protect. Sprinkle cinnamon, paprika, garlic, curry, black pepper, cayenne pepper and / or salt on the soil between your plants. Sprinkle the spices in your garden as well.
   • Most chickens don't like the pungent smell of strong spices and avoid the areas that smell like it.
   • If a chicken does walk through a spice-covered area, the bottoms of its legs will be covered with spice and cause a burning or tingling sensation. The chicken will not be hurt by this, but the feeling will likely be so unpleasant for the animal that it will flee your yard.
3. Use citrus peel. Gather old lemon peels, lime peels, or orange peels. Spread them in your garden and between your plant beds.
   • You can also spray the soil with lemon juice or lime juice. Use the juice instead of the citrus peel, or use both together.
   • For best results, you can also cut lemons or limes into pieces and spread the halves over the area.
   • Chickens generally don't like the smell of citrus fruits, so the smell may be enough to keep them out. If a chicken does take a bite of the fruit, it will usually be put off by its sour taste. However, the fruit is not bad for the chickens.
4. Plant herbs that are unappealing to chickens. Some plants are naturally unattractive to most chickens. If you plant these plant species in your garden around and among other more attractive plants, the odor from the unattractive plants is likely to be strong enough to repel the chickens.
   • Many solid herbs are very suitable for this purpose.Some options to consider include wild marjoram, thyme, lavender, mint, lemon balm, real marjoram, chamomile, and sweet woodruff.
   • Mature perennials are firmly rooted in the ground, making it difficult for chickens to scratch them out if they do get curious.
   • If possible, plant mature plants instead of using seedlings and seeds. Only fully grown plants are strong enough to withstand roaming chickens. Younger herbs may be too weak.
   • Other plants known to keep chickens away include common annuals such as watercress, industrious lizards, shell seed, petunias and marigolds. However, in places where there is little for the chickens to eat, stray chickens can even eat these plants.
5. Be selective when removing weeds. Chickens like areas with bare soil, so areas with lots of weeds and other dense plant matter are less attractive to them than well-tended gardens with empty areas of soil.
   • If weeds are an eyesore, another option is to plant your flowers and vegetables closer together than you normally do. Some plants may not grow as well as a result, but planting the plant beds this way will likely save them and protect them from the chickens.
   • However, some plants cannot grow in dense areas. If your plants are withering due to the weeds, pull some weeds away without completely clearing the area. Avoid areas of bare soil in your garden that are large enough for chickens.

Part 2 of 3: Keeping the chickens out of your yard

1. Fence your plants. The easiest way to prevent chickens from attacking a particular plant is to put a fence around it. A simple fence made of chicken wire and posts is usually enough to keep the chickens away.
   • Place a tomato cage over the plant you want to protect or put two to four long stakes around the plant.
   • Wrap the chicken wire around the sticks and insert them vertically through the chicken wire so that the whole structure remains firm.
   • You only need to make the structure 6 to 12 inches high to keep most chickens away.
2. Cover the ground with metal mesh. If you want to protect a large area with mulch, recently planted seeds and seedlings, you can usually do this by covering the entire area with soil. Most chickens don't like the feel of metal mesh under their feet, so they stay away from the area.
   • Buy fencing designed to stop deer that has relatively small holes. Place a piece of fencing over the entire surface you want to protect. Place heavy stones or bricks on the edges of the fence so that it stays in place.
   • Otherwise, buy metal mesh and cut out a rectangle large enough to cover the area you want to protect. Cut small squares from the corners and bend the four edges down at the corners you just cut, so that you get perpendicular "legs" for the metal mesh to rest on. Place your homemade wire mesh cage in the area you want to protect. The metal mesh should stand firm without requiring further support.
3. Place stones around the bottom part of a plant. Another way to protect a single plant is to completely surround the bottom part of a plant with bricks or medium to large stones. The stones must be large enough so that the chickens cannot move them.
   • Wait for the seeds to come out and then place stones on the spot. That way you know exactly where the bottom part of the plant is and you don't accidentally cover or block the area.
   • Use stones with a diameter or width of at least 6 inches. Smaller stones may be too light and can be knocked over by very aggressive chickens.
   • Make sure that the bottom part of the plant is completely surrounded by bricks or stones. Leave as few openings as possible in this ring.
4. Put your plants in pots or containers. Most chickens do not get to plants that grow in tall pots and containers because they have to go the extra mile to get to those plants. It may not be practical to plant all the plants in your garden in pots and containers, but if there is a particular plant you really want to protect, using a pot or container can keep the plant a bit safer.
   • In the case of very aggressive chickens, you may have to take a few extra steps, even if you put your plants in pots and containers. Place the plants on a raised patio, porch, or any other area where the chickens cannot reach at all. You can also place stones or bricks around the bottom part of the newly emerged plant in the container or pot, just as if you had planted the plant in the soil.

Part 3 of 3: Luring the chickens to another place

1. Make sure your garden does not have bare spots. Chickens are attracted to bare patches of soil. If you keep the soil in your garden dense but you have a separate, visible area of ​​bare soil, most chickens will leave your yard alone and be lured to the bare soil area.
   • Clear a square area of ​​soil about 1 meter long and 1 meter wide. Remove all plants from that area, including weeds and grass, so that only bare soil is left.
   • The chickens will be attracted to that place. They are likely to scratch and poke the soil to find insects, and will often use the area for a dust bath. If they have a place where they can do this, chances are they won't be doing these things elsewhere in your yard.
   • It's also a good idea to sprinkle diatomaceous earth over this area every few months to keep bird mites away.
2. Create a separate garden for the chickens. If you're trying to fend off your own chickens, consider creating two separate gardens, one for yourself and one for your chickens. Fill the garden for your chickens with a lot of attractive and healthy edible plants for your chickens to nibble on.
   • This trick works best when used in conjunction with other chicken repelling techniques. Setting up a separate yard for your chickens may not be enough to solve the problem if that's all you're doing.
   • Be sure to plant shrubs and low trees in the yard for your chickens to provide shelter for chickens who want to hide in the shade or avoid potential predators.
   • Plant an evergreen shrub so that the chickens have a shelter in the winter too.
   • Planting edible shrubs will be an added treat for the chickens. Berry bushes like elderberry bushes and blueberry bushes are usually good options. If you try to control your own chickens, you can also save on chicken feed costs by planting edible shrubs.

Necessities

• Garden hose
• Garden sprinkler with motion sensor
• Cinnamon, paprika, garlic, curry and / or pepper
• Citrus peels
• Solid herbs
• Chicken wire, deer fencing or metal wire mesh
• Long sticks or tomato cage
• Heavy stones or bricks
• Pots and other planters
• Chicken-friendly shrubs and trees