Chickens!!
Jonesk
Posts: 205
Well, I have some new guests in my garden. Chickens!!
Today just 2 but apparently 5 whilst I was at work yesterday. They come from the farm about 400 meters from my house.
They are congregating on the patio and pecking at fallen birdseed. They've had a bit of a scratch in my bed and made a mess with the bark, pecked amongst some of my smaller plants but they seem to have tolerated it and defecated all over the patio!!
Yes it's very annoying having to clean up after them but I'm not going to resort to putting up chicken proof fencing!!
Any ideas of how to get rid? The poo outside my door that I will have to clear up before I can let my children out to play is a real pain (my youngest 16 month old would probably choose to eat it as her first garden activity, right before moving onto eating soil, stones, berries on bushes or try to climb in the pond!!). If I shoo them enough times will they get the message?
Posts
I think you will have to resort to putting up chicken proof fencing, shooing them won't make a blind bit of difference, could move the bird feeders away from the patio, towards the back of the garden.
Thanks Cornelly - I initially read that as 'shooting them won't make a blind bit of difference'!!! I was thinking my goodness will more just come!!!
I don't really want to expense of chicken proofing a large garden - plus I really don't want to keep the natural wildlife in or out either.
Good idea about moving the bird feeders but that's such a shame as we all really enjoy watching the birds from our lounge.
Any other ideas??? - I'd be less annoyed if I even got to eat some fresh eggs, all the downside and no upside
Hi Phillipa - just read your comment.
Hmmm that sounds a little worrying - I'm hoping as they are free to roam they won't be spending a huge amount of time in my garden if there is nothing for them. I'm going to remove the bird seed and just keep some fat balls and peanuts out for now - hopefully they will get bored and move on. Do you think they may lay some eggs round here?? May be worth it if we got some free eggs!!!
Hows Tomasz by the way
Nor mine Philippa.
Definitely have a word with the farm. They won't want their birds going walkies and have probably not noticed the hole in their fence. Or maybe they just missed clipping the wings of the few that have escaped.
You could negotiate payment for the damage in eggs and droppings (preferably supplied separately).
indeed so ps2. Not as if he didn't have options eh?
I love chickens and would love to have them here, but we have a family ( at least ) of foxes live on the land and they keep the rabbits down. I don't want to add chicken to their diet.
https://icariad.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/18865_292502883384_704863384_4553493_7797670_n.jpg
just to keep us going ps2.