Preen Weed Preventer - flower beds- chickens

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member
Have a problem. Neighbors chickens has eaten the wood mulch from my flower beds. Yes eaten the wood mulch. Told him I was going to put Preen Weed Preventer down and he should keep his chicken locked up. While that lasted just a few days. Chickens are back.

Question 1: Should I put Preen Weed Preventer in flower beds? Insturctions say not to use near a well. My well is 60 ft deep, water table is 30 ft below grade. Ground is 2 feet of clay on top of yellow sand and rock.

Question 2: Will Preen hurt the chickens or their eggs? Neighbor sells the eggs?

Yes, shooting the chickens sounds good to me.

It will take about a semi-load of mulch to put my flower beds back. I have more flower beds than some have yard. A fence is out of the question.

So, to Preen or Not to Preen? Buy a pellet gun and To shoot or not to shoot?

George
 
Shoot them and invite him over for a nice free range chicken dinner. Should solve the problem when he realizes he is eating his own profit.
 
There are different versions of Preen, one is just ground up corn meal. Which one are you using, what are the active ingredients?

Paul
 
A semi load, gees how many chickens does he have? Weed and feed for chickens? We all know the first sign of sickness in a chicken is sudden death so I'm guessing they wouldn't do to well on it. I'd have a talk with the free ranger again...Ron
 
Pacionce G perhaps a puppy or 2 from the pound too keep those chickens at bay which could go back after they have been thinned..... electric training collars too keep them out of the neighbors yard and the flower beds...you now the fresh eggs from freerange chickens are so good for you perhaps the nieghbor will help you remulch and give you eggs too... Kencove.com has electric fence options for chickens prehaps the neighbor will take the hint and move their chickens too the far side and pen them in. if they have guinnes they are noisey but will eat all the ticks and chiggers for A 1/4 mi or more. they are very preditor savy and fly around but don't go much more than 600'+- from the roost... soon enough the natural preditors hawks, owls, eagles, coyotes, dogs, racoons, skunks, foxes, will move in for the kill. They will scratch around all the buildings hunting bugs, grubbs, worms and mice that they can get too. don't leave the door open they are hard too get out of the house esp with a dog chasing them. If you pick them up the roosters will get mean and try too sneak up on you and peck you while your not paying attention. I remmber a rooster took the steak off Uncle Don's plate while he was talking dispite his arsnel just too many folks around for him too safly oberate it. besides it out ran him with the steak the problem with small steaks that a chicken can run with. good luck coolerheads prevale
 
My wife always worrys when I use roundup. Have tried Preen before according to instructions with product. Probably would have controlled weeds better by just peeing in the flower bed :(
 
The starch prevents some small weed seeds from germination. At that it works well. However, most of our weeds are bigger seeds, broad leaves, or biannual and per annual weeds - which the starch is more of a fertilizer for, rather than detriment.

Paul
 
4020guy
I estimate there is between 10,000-15,000 square feet of flower beds. At 2 inches of mulch to re-dress the beds, that between 60-90 yards of mulch. My dump trailer can carry 5 yards. I know just how far 5 yards goes, not very far. How many yards can a semi-carry?

The chickens were in the beds all winter. Thought they just covered the existing mulch with dirt. So what? Well most of the mulch is GONE! I wonder if the chicken poop is shaped like a 2x4?

I kinda of like the idea of going to the animal shelter and getting a dog that likes chicken. Think I should take some Kentucky Fried with me to make sure he likes Chicken? Just have to convince the BOSS about getting a Security Dog.

What about the weed killer getting in the water supply? Think it will go throught 2 ft of clay?
George
 
Have you thought of a fake owl that they use to keep bird out of the garden, or something that cast a shadow like a hawk, it might be enough to keep those chicken out of the beds.
 
If you go to the shelter they will tell you which ones are chicken killers. I just got two new dogs from there. Had one picked out and I had them go back through the records - sure enough, kills chickens. Doesn't work for me, but it would be right up your alley.

There was a shelter here that was so full that they were letting people take them home for the long Christmas holiday and then bring them back. They just needed to farm some out and give them some social time. I'll bet you could borrow one for a week. Then the boss would become attached, and you have a new friend.
 
Do you have any idea how much pee it would take to cover the flower beds? Perhaps I could have a big party, tell everyone they have to pee on the flowers. Think that would catch on?
 
George,

Chickens and flower beds do not mix, does not matter who owns them.

We had to fence our garden to keep our chickens out . The free range chicken idea did not last long for us.

I agree with your mulch estimates as we have lots of land scaping too. Before getting the local tool rentals edger last spring they told me to estimate how many feet I would be edging. I quit counting after walking over 300 steps.

We also use preen on our beds early in April. Kept in the chickens till we had a couple good rains.
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Most real Preen has Treflan in it. If you follow the label directions it is safe for your water supply. Clay should tie it up.

As for the chickens. They make a .22 subsonic round that will smoke a chicken. .177 or .22 air rifle. Wrist rocket sling shot with steel, round ball ammo. Electric fence hooked to a good hot charger.

I like the dog idea, but the dogs themselves would be a lot of work. and they can tear up as much as chickens.

If you have warned him and told him of the problem, then it sounds like a regular diet of good fried chicken is the only solution.

Let me know when you want to have the feed. Tammy makes the best ole, homestyle fried chicken in this county.

Gene
 

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