Veg Patch and chickens

[ChickChick]

Hi

Can anyone help, I am not sure wether to let my chooks out onto my veg plot, will they damage the veg ? or just get rid of any slugs and catipillers ?

Thanks

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine ChickChick.

The chickens will eat your veg quicker than the slugs and snails can!! Chickens love cabbages!

Fence off an area for the chooks and chuck the slugs and snails into that area.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi ChickChick,
As Shirl says, chickens will eat a lot of veg, but the main destruction is done by their scratching behaviour as they forage for insects. This can be great if you are able to fence them into a patch of bare ground, they will scratch it all up, eat the bugs and put down some manure for you into the bargain, and then you can move them onto the next patch when they're done. It does have to be managed quite carefully though.

[witch-1]

I was told to keep them off until the winter months then let them forage around and do some clearing for you!

My veg patch is fenced off (keeping dog off originally) but I did find one chook in there the other day Boy can she jump up a way - the fence is low but didn't expect her to get over it!

Jan

[ChickChick]

Thanks

Thanks - I thought that would be the case.

[TPeers]

Watch out for your lettuce as well - they like the odd salad with the slugs and snails!