niggles Posted September 1, 2015 Hi folks, Just about to get some chickens to eat all the weeds and snail and slugs and whatnot. Quite excited to have them in the garden, but I am concerned that they might destroy my lovely button cactus (worse than the snails are already doing) Just wondering if anyone out there has had any experience with this sort of thing. Should I put all my buttons out of reach? Will they leave them alone? If I do the chicken dance will the conform to my wishes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Amazonian Posted September 1, 2015 (edited) Gee I dunno niggles, I wouldn't risk it. Chickens are pretty inquisitive and will try anything, and also peck at shit just for fun. I had a chook that enjoyed destroying styrofoam worm farm boxes, lol. Chooks are great, but they are a bit like feathered goats in my experience. EDIT: I might add that you would be thinking the chook destroyed the foam box looking for worms, but she also picked at the foam that cushioned fish tanks, the foam insulation in a shed.... she was a foam addict. Lol. But yeah, chooks make good additions to the yard. I would like to get some quail. Newly hatched quail are so cute. Tiny little things...But there are too many cats in the neighbourhood to have free ranging quail. Edited September 1, 2015 by Amazonian 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 1, 2015 feed them lophs then eat the chickens. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 1, 2015 Roast Mescaline. Chicken flavoured. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DeadStar Posted September 1, 2015 I agree with amazonian I have two chicken and i can tell you that any garden bed or pot that sits on the ground will get raked threw or pulled up but curious chickens. I have put netting over the veggie patch and have found scoria as mulch in pots stop them from searching for bugs but wont stop them from eating whats planted in them. I would still recommend to anyone to get chooks. I could watch their antics all morning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flora Posted September 1, 2015 Lol they go apeshit over styrofoam hey Main thing with chickens is they will scratch at anything that can be scratched. but they will get pecky too especially if they see a grasshopper on your buttons for example. Yes, Ive had buttons pecked I would say pointy beaked friends in general do not respect your collection Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bogfrog Posted September 1, 2015 Uh oh. That's my first and only thought upon reading the title. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strontium Dawg Posted September 1, 2015 It's roosters you gotta watch out for, theys vicious. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 1, 2015 I used to feed torstens killer rooster live mice. chooks are like tiny dinosaurs. quicker than a mousetrap, great protein, grotesque freakshow. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kykeion Posted September 1, 2015 I'd protect them. even if they decide not to eat them they will most likely peck at them to taste them and decide if they are edible Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lorax Posted September 2, 2015 (edited) They will eat your trichos Niggles!, probably the buttons too but I can't say for sure.Had one of my brigdesii(E. lageniformis) pecked right down to the core before a friend caught the little cacti assailant, not sure if he is going to make it.The cactus that is, the little feathery fiend lives another day and i guess you could say for the best , such tasty eggs.We have 2 awesome chickens but at the moment they only get let out under supervision.I'm not sure how else to keep them away from the cacti, except maybe fencing.If the dance works friend you will have to make a youtube vid or something teaching everyone Edited September 2, 2015 by Stath Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sayagata Posted September 3, 2015 Here they are (niggles and my) chickens both already laid an egg this morning and have eaten a bunch of snails we have given them! The lophs are safely caged but we will keep an eye on the rest. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
etherealdrifter Posted September 3, 2015 Here they are (niggles and my) chickens both already laid an egg this morning and have eaten a bunch of snails we have given them! The lophs are safely caged but we will keep an eye on the rest. IMG_1873.JPG bok bok BOK! Booo rrrr kkk..BOK! Welcome to the forum Sayagata Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted September 3, 2015 Thanks for your replies. I have been reading on the topic, apparently you can train your chickens... so im going to try and train them to leave cactus alone. Ill let you know how that goes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted September 3, 2015 P.S. I just started a mealy worm farm. Currently watching them chew on bits of carrot and potato. Fascinating. This is how I plan to make my chickens love me enough not to eat the cactus. With Mealy bribes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conv3rgence Posted September 4, 2015 Hynotize the chickens to fiercely guard the Lophs with their lives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatis Posted September 4, 2015 "lophophora and chickens".......... wicked name for a corner store 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 5, 2015 I know where I would buy my chickens. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 5, 2015 I personally think you will get pummelled and in about two weeks time you will have been outsmarted by chickens, I would not gamble my lophs with chickens you need yourself a cactus house!! a chicken proof one. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Distracted Posted September 5, 2015 I grafted a loph for a friend early this year. He sent me a message a few weeks later saying his chicken ate the graft. I laughed but I felt a little sad. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
incognito Posted September 5, 2015 seriously if your lophs get eaten by a chicken now you get a Darwin award or something. Mescalito is chanting "No, not the chickens, you asshole" 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oatis Posted September 5, 2015 can just imagine the mess they would make of your lophs ...one would have a go and then they would all be in to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niggles Posted September 7, 2015 HAh yeah im letting them hang out with the trichs, not the lophs. the lophs are safely in a cage - well the little ones.. there are some big grafts that are currently at risk, but these chickens seem pretty cool about everything. they havent hassled them at all. And there is plenty of other things for them to peck on. All is well in the niggles chicken ranch so far. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Slocombe Posted September 7, 2015 Living dangerously I see 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
