help

[thechickenladyx]

i'm new to this thing. but i have a question, some of you may be able to answer. you all seem so knowledgable.

since i can't even buy dog food, much less for my kids, i have to get serious with the food growing thing. how do i keep my free range chickens out of the garden? i don't have the time or money to fence it all in.

[MELOC]

chicken tractor? less fence i guess.

[tinknal]

Might sound kind of redneck, but my chickens dislike tall grass or weeds. If you let a border of tall grass and weeds grow between the birds and the garden they may stay out.

[bqz]

Do they have to free range?
Is housing the chickens an option for you?
Don't know how many chickens you have but maybe you can pen them up some how

[Madame]

Try going to www.freecycle.com and post a request for free fencing and whatever else you might need. You may end up with free fencing, or you may not. Doesn't hurt to try.

[uncle Will in In.]

Turn the chickens and kids out at the same time. Let the kids run chickens out of the garden.

[Ravenlost]

Originally Posted by uncle Will in In.

Turn the chickens and kids out at the same time. Let the kids run chickens out of the garden.

That's exactly what my Mama used to do!

[Fire-Man]

Originally Posted by thechickenladyx

i'm new to this thing. but i have a question, some of you may be able to answer. you all seem so knowledgable.

since i can't even buy dog food, much less for my kids, i have to get serious with the food growing thing. how do i keep my free range chickens out of the garden? i don't have the time or money to fence it all in.

Where do you live? Some one on here might have a chicken tractor or wire that they could loan you--I know I do, but I am in SC. Matter of fact---I wish I had some family to share my garden with---for some help with it. Randy

[thechickenladyx]

thanx for all the useful answers. to answer some of the questions. my kids are teenagers, way past the age of chasing chickens. they don't seem to mind high grass or weeds, as a matter of fact they search for it. i have 30 ladies, and i just hate caging them. past attempts have caused injury, and some always escape anyway. plus it puts them in one area, so the fox can just pick them off. i live in the north east, USA. very North east.

i will try that fence site. thanx

[Macybaby]

I gave up and put a fence around the garden. Wasn't much of a fence, but the chickens had plenty of easy pickings, so they didn't bother jumping over. Kept the rabbits out too, which is also a big concern.



The fence I have that actually keeps the chickens in is much sturdier and taller than what I put around the garden. I still let them out quite a bit. They are all locked in a coop at night.

Cathy

[Bearfootfarm]

Last year I kept the chickens out of the garden with "electric" fence that wasnt really electric. I just used temporary "twine" type fencing but didnt hook it up to a charger. The chickens didnt test to see if it was "hot"
A 660 foot roll is $16 from Premier, but you can buy the stuff most anywhere that sells farm supplies
Intellitwine: http://www.premier1supplies.com/deta...=432&cat_id=41