How To Use Chickens To Control Garden Pests

Learn how a local gardener uses his chickens to help control unwanted pests in his vegetable garden.
From the Southwest Yard & Garden series.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Gardening
• Garden
• Pests
• Chickens
• Vegetable
• Gardens
• Southwest
• Yard

[barkershill]

@bigd1971 Yeah, I had the same problem , and to be honest cannot think of any major pest in my garden that they would help eradicate

[barkershill]

@davidhaythornthwaite Very much with you on that one Dave , I have watched a good number of Chicken Tractor type vids, and to be honest , I cannot think of any major pest that chickens would reduce! They will however scoff down earthworms at every chance which is what you want to keep and as you say eat and trample the plants .

[teoaaron]

Very good method of cleaning pest.... any ideas for potatoes pest?

[buyerofsorts]

Is that you're own personal garden? If so, holy smokes!

[desertgreenie]

Ha! You're right! I thought one looked plastic and watched it a second time...there is a seam in the middle :P

[figg2112]

1 of those eggs look fake

[sheaviance]

I turn my chickens out after tilling the garden in the spring to clean up any leftover larvae, and again throughout the fall/winter. I also turn them out in the garden once the plants are well established right after I have picked for the day. My chickens will NOT eat squash bugs.

[bigd1971]

How do you keep the chickens from eating the plants and veggies? My hens just love to eat anything and everything I plant, so I cannot let them in the garden.

[davidhaythornthwaite]

i would not run hens in my allotment at the same time, u will fine they eat your veg and the insects that do help the plot, i would wait till the plot is empty then put them on, i have been gardening for 35 yrs and kept poultry for 20 of them, i will stick too my way, rather than yours. David from UK