The instinctual habits of chickens, such as scratching and dust bathing, often conflict with a desire for pristine landscaping. Chickens are driven by the biological need to forage for food and maintain feather health, which leads them directly to the loose, inviting surface of a mulch bed. This common conflict results in scattered mulch, exposed plant roots, and damaged garden beds. Protecting your landscaping requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses both exclusion and behavioral redirection.
Utilizing Physical Barriers
The most immediate and effective method for protecting a mulch bed involves creating a solid physical separation. Low fencing or netting provides a clear boundary that prevents chickens from accessing the area entirely. For a perimeter fence around a garden area, a height of approximately four to six feet is generally effective, especially for heavier breeds, though lighter birds may require a full six-foot barrier or a clipped wing to prevent flight over the top.
The effectiveness of any barrier relies heavily on securing the base to the ground, as chickens are adept at scratching and will quickly tunnel under fencing that is not anchored. Burying the lowest edge of the wire or netting a few inches beneath the soil line prevents them from simply scratching a path into the bed.
For smaller, temporary protection over newly planted areas, you can secure chicken wire or deer netting directly over the mulch, anchoring it with landscape staples or heavy stones. This flat barrier allows plants to grow through the mesh while making the surface physically uncomfortable and unproductive for scratching. Once the plants are established and better able to withstand light scratching, the temporary wire can often be removed.
Modifying the Mulch Bed Surface
Altering the texture and scent of the mulch bed can make the area naturally unappealing to a foraging chicken. Chickens prefer loose, fine material that is easy to manipulate with their feet and beaks. You can discourage scratching by choosing mulch materials that are too large or heavy for them to scatter easily.
Using materials like large river stones, cobblestones, or heavy, coarse bark mulch makes the physical act of scratching difficult and unrewarding. Pinecones or thorny branches, scattered densely across the surface, present a sensory barrier that chickens are instinctively hesitant to walk or scratch on.
Introducing strong sensory deterrents can also convince chickens to avoid the area altogether. Chickens tend to dislike the pungent aroma of certain spices and natural oils. Sprinkling ground cinnamon, paprika, or garlic powder directly onto the mulch can create an olfactory signal that repels them.
Citrus peels, such as those from lemons, limes, or oranges, are another effective, natural deterrent because the strong scent is highly unpleasant to chickens. These aromatic repellents must be reapplied regularly, especially after any significant rainfall or watering, to maintain the necessary intensity.
Redirecting Chicken Behavior
Addressing the underlying instincts driving the scratching behavior offers a more holistic solution than simple exclusion. Chickens scratch primarily to forage for seeds and insects and to create a depression for an essential dust bath. Providing an attractive alternative area can successfully redirect their activity away from the mulch beds.
A designated dust bath area should be easily accessible and filled with a mixture of fine, dry materials. A container or shallow, in-ground pit measuring at least 12 by 22 inches and six to eight inches deep provides ample space for a hen to roll. The ideal blend includes dry soil, fine sand, and wood ash, which helps them clean their feathers and manage external parasites like mites and lice.
To further minimize the impulse to forage in the mulch, ensure the chickens have a dedicated, confined area where they can engage in natural scratching behavior. This “scratch patch” can be a separate corner of their run where you scatter scratch grains, safe food scraps, or dried mealworms.
Allowing free-ranging only during periods of close supervision also helps reinforce boundaries, particularly when new plants are vulnerable.