I'll be honest with you—when I first started Chicken City 11 years ago, I killed a lot of plants. Like, a LOT.
I'd plant something beautiful, feeling all optimistic and excited, and then within days (months if I was lucky!), the chickens would have scratched it up, pecked it down, or just generally destroyed it. It was so frustrating.
But here's the thing I eventually figured out: you absolutely can have a lush, green, productive food forest inside your chicken run. Fruit trees, herbs, veggies, the works. All coexisting with chickens. In fact, I currently have 25 chickens living in Chicken City alongside thriving apple trees, citrus, passion fruit vines, sage, mint, and so much more.
The secret? It's not about keeping chickens away from plants—it's about understanding what actually kills the plants and protecting just that part.
The Root of the Problem (Literally)
Most people think chickens destroy plants by eating the leaves. And sure, they'll nibble on things they like. But the real damage? It's the scratching. Chickens LOVE to dig great big dirty holes, and when they do that around your plants, they expose and damage the root system. That's what kills the plant.
So the solution is simple: protect the roots, not the leaves.
My Favourite (and Cheapest) Tricks
Over the years, I've tested just about every method you can imagine. Here are my go-to techniques:
Old wardrobe baskets from hard rubbish are my absolute favourite. Turn them upside down over your plants and suddenly you've got root protection plus the chickens can still nibble whatever grows through the wire. Win-win.
Bricks or rocks strategically placed around the base of trees. Space them close enough that the chickens can't dig a big hole, but far enough apart that they can still do their good work—weeding, fertilizing, pest control.
Horticultural fleece wrapped around an obelisk or trellis for vines when they're young. Once the vine grows up and out of beak-reach, you're golden.
Wire rings around herbs and perennials. The plant grows through the wire, the chickens can harvest what comes through, but the root system stays protected forever.
The beauty of all these methods? Most of them use free or super cheap materials. And once you understand the principle—protect the roots—it becomes really easy.
It Really Works
I promise you, if someone had shown me these techniques 11 years ago, I would have saved myself so many dead plants and so much heartache. Now? Chicken City is this incredibly lush green oasis that produces food for us AND provides an enriching environment for the chickens.
If you want to see exactly how I use each of these techniques, what they look like in action, and get all the specific details, I've filmed a full tour showing you everything. You'll see the wire baskets, the brick placement, the horticultural fleece—all of it.
Trust me, if you're dreaming of a lush green chicken coop or you're tired of losing plants to your flock, this video will change everything for you. It's actually really easy once you know how.
Get more details on Chicken City, including rough plans
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