The Destructive Power of Chickens!

[rachvit]

Hi guys,

For those of you who have chickens or are thinking of getting them for your garden, I thought it would be quite interesting to demonstrate how "destructive" they can be when left to their own devices!

I cordoned off an area in our garden with chicken wire, and placed one of their laying coops along with a food dispenser.

They were placed in the temporary coop on Monday of this week (8th August 2011) with the final photo being taken on Friday of this week (12th August 2011).

I hope this is useful to someone!

(LARGE IMAGE WARNING)

[tlck9]

Looks like on day 5 they were napping there's some greenery growing back!

My 1st 4 pulletts, 19 weeks old destroyed a lovely 8x8 piece of grass in 6 hours. bare nothing! zilch!

But its a good post as it does show they can strip back to nothing in such a short time. get some rain and its halved the time it takes.

But we still love em

[chris]

I'd bought a load of alpines, thinking the rough texture, and fat waxy leaves wouldn't be touched. Planted all up - no interested for 2 days. Came home the 3rd day to find it all gone :/

So far, the only thing they've not eaten is my blackcurrant bush (but stripped my red + whties), and buddleia.

[rachvit]

Thanks for the response guys - I think it's amazing how they literally leave "scorched earth" if left to their own devices!

[VirginVegGrower]

They're grubbers and foragers - that's the nature of the beast or bird in this case! I let mine come on the borders with me where they scratch and dust bath and have halved my weeding. Their chips and poop goes on top of any bare soil as a mulch - I LOVE MY LADIES!
They eat my excess cukes and other scraps and expel lovely eggs and compost matter. Perfect...

[Munch]

My LS were put into and 12' by 10' enclusure that was so over grown I was actually worried I wouldnt find them!!

Weeds waist height (my waste not chooks!!)

I have discovered they dont like thistle, the only thing still standing is a 3 foot, very pretty albeit prickly thistle!!!

[Flummery]

Mine even killed a blackcurrant bush Chris! They have a bt of garden they are let 'out to play' in every day, fenced off with chicken wire. It still has some grass (they aren't there all day, just when I can supervise) but there are huge depression in it where they dust bathe.

[Munch]

Oh yeah!

And dust baths !!!!! The layers have created a few........ they are like craters on the moon, some are about 18inches deep now! enough to bust an ankle if I dont look where I am walking!

[BUFFS]

i used mine to clear 2 areas,they even got the marestail,havent seen any this year,thank you girls,alas they go to their new home tomorrow,it wont half be quiet.......

[rachvit]

It's funny how they give you that "look" when the area is decimated. Almost as if they are "ready" for the next spot!

Ha!

[elizajay]

i used mine to clear 2 areas,they even got the marestail,havent seen any this year,thank you girls,alas they go to their new home tomorrow,it wont half be quiet.......

I am sure the marestail will be back!

[baldrick]

weed and feed...................

[RedThorn]

Mine even ate a rose bush to a stump in the ground.....

[mrswadders]

i let mine loose in the greenhouse at the end of the season, saves me having to clear it and they feed the borders too - brilliant!

[Glutton4...]

Can they be trained to eat nettles? They are the only thing that survive in my Chook run. I go in and mow them, then they eat the mowings, but they won't eat the growing plant.