Free-range chickens can cause a lot of damage in a short period of time.There are a few things you can do to discourage chickens from trampling.
Step 1: The chickens should be sprayed with water.
If you see chickens in your garden, spray them with a garden hose.The water pressure light scares the chickens without hurting them.The chickens will usually return shortly after you spray them the first time, but if you do this consistently enough, they may eventually associate your yard with the water and start to avoid it.Since spraying them with a garden hose requires you to be present, you may not be able to catch them all the time.If you're not around, you may want to install motion-activated water sprinklers to catch the chickens.
Step 2: There are spices around the area.
Dust the ground between the plants with cinnamon, paprika, garlic, curry powder, black pepper, cayenne, salt, or a spice blend containing one or more of these options.Spice can be applied to the perimeter of your garden.Chickens don't like the smell of strong spices so they avoid areas that smell them.The spices will coat the bottom of the chicken's feet if it wanders onto the ground.The chicken will not be harmed, but the feeling will be so bad that the bird will flee from your yard.
Step 3: Use the peels.
Old lemons, limes, and oranges can be gathered.In between the plant beds, scatter them around the perimeter of the garden.Lemon juice or lime juice can be sprayed on the ground.Use the juice instead of the peels.You can scatter the fruit halves over the area by cutting lemons or limes.Chickens don't like the smell of fruit, and that smell might be enough to repel them.The sour taste of the fruit will repel a chicken if it nibbles it.The fruit shouldn't hurt the chickens.
Step 4: Plant plants that are unattractive.
Most chickens don't like some plants.If you plant these species in your garden, in between rows of more appealing plants, the smell of the unattractive plants could help ward off chickens.Perennial herbs work well for this purpose.There are some options that are worth considering.Chickens can't scratch perennial herbs even if they get curious because they are firmly in the ground.If possible, transplant established plants instead of seeds.Only established herbs are strong enough to resist chickens.Younger forms might not be strong.Plants that are known to discourage chickens include nasturtiums, impatiens, and petunias.Plants can fall victim to wandering chicken in areas with little food.
Step 5: Weeds are put on a level playing field.
Chickens prefer bare ground, so areas with plentiful weeds and other dense plant material are less likely to attract them than well-groomed gardens with patches of empty soil.If weeds bother you, you can plant your flowers or vegetables closer together.This can limit the growth of some plants, but dense plant beds might be the key to saving the entire plant bed.Plants can't thrive in crowded soil.Pull up some weeds if they are causing your plants to wither.You don't want to create chicken-sized patches of bare dirt in your garden or yard.
Step 6: Fence off the plants.
A fence around the plant is the easiest way to prevent chickens from attacking it.Chicken wire is usually enough to keep pests away from a simple fence.You can surround the plant with two to four stakes if you put a tomato cage over it.Wrap the chicken wire around the stakes to keep the structure secure.The structure needs to be at least 12 inches tall to keep chickens out.
Step 7: Place wire cloth on the ground.
If you want to protect a broad area of mulch, you can usually spread a wire cloth over the entire patch of ground.Chickens don't like the feeling of wire beneath their feet so they stay away.Purchase wire deer netting with small holes and spread a sheet over the entire area you want to protect.The netting should be secured with heavy stones or bricks to prevent it from coming off.Purchase wire hardware cloth and cut a large piece to cover the area you want to protect.Cut a small square out of each corner and bend all four edges down at the newly cut corners, creating "legs" for the wire mesh to stand on.You can put the makeshift wire box over the area you want to protect.It should remain secure.
Step 8: There is a plant with stones.
It is possible to surround the base of a plant with bricks or stones.The chickens can't move them if the stones are large.Before you surround the area with stones, wait until the seed starts to grow.If you know where the base of the plant is, you won't have to cover it or block it.Try to use stones that are at least 6 inches in diameter.Anything smaller than this could be knocked over by aggressive chickens.The base of the plant should be surrounded by brick or stone.There should be little gaps in this ring.
Step 9: Plant in containers.
Chickens won't bother with plants grown inside high containers because of the extra effort it would take.If there is a particular plant that you feel is especially protective of, container gardening may be the way to go.Even with container gardens, you may need to take a few extra steps with aggressive chickens.Plants can be placed on a deck, porch, or other place that is out of reach for chickens.You can surround the base of the container plant with stones or bricks.
Step 10: Keep the garden away from the bare patches.
Chickens are attracted to bare ground.If you keep the ground of your garden densely covered but have a separate area of bare ground within view, most chickens will leave the garden behind and gravitate toward the uncovered soil.A square space is roughly 1 yard long and a yard wide.Leave the bare soil behind and remove all plant life from that space.The chickens are attracted to this area.They use this space for dust baths because they scratch and poke around for insects.They may not want to do these things in your yard if they have a dedicated space for them.Sprinkled over this patch of ground every few months will keep chicken mites away.
Step 11: There is a garden for chickens.
If you're trying to repel your own chickens, you might want to consider planting two separate gardens.There are lots of appealing and healthy plants for your chickens to eat in the chicken garden.When used in conjunction with other chicken-repelling techniques, this trick works best.If you only do one thing you may not be able to solve the problem.Chickens need to hide from the sun or potential predator in order to survive in your chicken garden.The chickens have cover in the winter if you include an evergreen shrub.The chickens will benefit from planting bushes.Berry bushes are usually good options.The cost of feeding chickens can be reduced with the use ofedible bushes.