HOW I KEEP CHICKENS OUT OF MY FLOWER POTS
I love my free range chickens but I also like having pretty pots overflowing with beautiful flowers. Today I’m going to share with you the ways I keep my chickens from pecking and or dust bathing in my planted pots.
I do have to say because my chickens have free range of the property I don’t notice them having the desire to peck at and eat my flowers and I attribute that to them getting what they need from nature. The bigger problem I have is they like to sit in the flower pots and either dust bath or lay eggs.
It sure doesn’t take long for my pretty flowers to be beaten down and pitiful looking. After that happens I tend to give up on even having flowers.
Take into consideration these methods are for function not for their prettiness. But I do have to say they work every time for me.
CHICKEN WIRE CLOCHES are cheap and easy. I just cut off enough chicken wire to just fit inside the planter, curve it to shape the pot, and use landscape staples to secure it in place. Sometimes I cut the wire to fit the height of the flowers and other times I use the dimensions of the roll, which is what I did here.
SHISH KABOB SKEWERS are another cheap and easy fix to keep chickens out of the smaller pots. I put them in pointy side up in the shape of a teepee. It can be as easy as that or you can do what I did and add a little bling to the top of the skewers. I had these vintage owls that have a hole in the bottom, so I placed one over the top of the skewers. The frog planter is a favorite spot of my chickens, for some reason they love to sit on top of this planter.
BOTTLE ART may not be everyone’s taste but for me it adds a little more interest to the planter. I place the flowers in the pot, then poke plant support stakes in at a random pattern inside the planter and top with colorful bottles.
What I’ve learned from all of this is chickens don’t like sharp objects poking into them so they avoid the planters. It’s hard for them to navigate all the protrusions.
These methods work for me. Give them a try and see if it helps keep you flower planters chicken free.
Great ideas Dawn!
Jeanie,
Thank you I sure enjoy having my flowers not all trampled by chickens. LOL
we have had to wrap wire fencing around our potted flowers on the front porch this week. Squirrels were digging in one large pot and sleeping in the other large pot. I am considering ordering some wire cloches on Amazon. Kind of pricey, but much prettier than chicken wire wrapped around our entire pots.
Diane, Let me know if you like the wire cloches from Amazon. I’ve looked at them but you are right the cost is a bit much.
I’m so happy to see a post from you today! I’ve been thinking of you since those tornadoes ripped through wondering if you were OK.
Carol, we had no trouble with the weather the tornadoes went all around us, all we had was a little rain, and no wind. Thank God we were spared. How’d you come through it?
Fine at my home. Alot of tree damage and some buildings 12 miles away. This is the 3rd go around with tornadoes being near misses here in the last several weeks. This is getting old! I’m happy to hear you were missed!
Carol, Im glad you are safe. I think its going to be a crazy summer for weather. Now it’s going to get blazing hot.
What is pale peachy green plant in ground picture with barrel of flowers
Jane, Its a drapple willow, sometimes called a flamingo plant it has pink tips. I cut it down to the ground every fall and it grows about 12 feet in one year. I’ve even tried to kill it off without success. Its beautiful, but a fast grower. I now just cut it down every year and let it grow back.