I've never raised chickens but some friends tried a doz or so last yr. They liked the garden very much, so did the chickens. They liked it so much that it didn't bother em at all when one by one, the chickens disappeared. Figured owls or hawks or coyotes as well as the BBQ. They don't have chickens anymore.

Seems like if you could figure a way to co-exist, bug patrol would be worth it. Also seems like I recall birds being ... touchy about electricity.

Gramma had lots of chickens but they never left a lrg. yard, wings were kept clipped and were put in the coop every night. Don't recall how high the yard fence was.

Have fun!

I've also heard that chickens love the vegetable garden & and to keep them out until after you've harvested. Then let them go in to munch & fertilize.

ABout the traumatic encounters ... Chickens can be socialized to become very docile & affectionate. I even read that chickens can be trained to do tricks! (The Old Farmer's Almanac, 2006, p. 176)

Chickens adore newly tilled (and planted!) gardens; the loose dirt makes for lovely dust baths. (Ask me how I know ... sigh). And yes, some of them can become quite affectionate. We had one hen we named "Suzie Squarebritches" who, when I'd go sit on the deck, would come and sit at my feet. We lost her to a &^%$#@ weasel. Back to the question: yes, if you have loose chickens and a garden, you will need to invest in poultry netting or some kind of closely-spaced fencing to keep them out until after harvest.

Thanks.....Bird netting, I can do..Electric fence stays.....I confess to reading extensively before 'pulling the trigger' and ordering them (about socialization) couldn't find much on 'in the garden' other than not a good idea to let them in on a freshly planted one (duh)........The trauma was w/ my Aunt's chickens, man they were mean..I had to go out and get the eggs, the nest boxes were about chest high to me those hens would come after me 'tooth' and nail. Then w/ them raisin' a ruckus here comes the rooster.....

I picked hens that had docile, social, easy.....etc...In their discription. Plus having had a lovebird and ringnecked parrakeet (sp?) hands on and interaction is key................

Get (or build) a Chicken Tractor--it's a chicken cage 2' high 2' wide and 12' long (could be shorter), open on the bottom. Put it in the pathways between the plants and the chicken will spend the day safe from predators eating slugs and other garden pests, scratching away to break up weeds, leaving chicken manure behind, and not disturbing your plant. Put a brick on top of it to make sure the wind doesn't blow it over.

Move the chicken tractor to a new pathway every day. Free organic weed control, free organic pest control, free organic fertilizer, and a really happy chicken.

They eat SLUGS?! I may have found my new best friends! That portable is a great idea, THANKS.................T