Leave a reaction | Ayanda Kunene | Last modified September 25, 2023.
Keeping free-range chickens is arguably one of the best aspects of backyard farming.
The chickens are happy, healthy, and provide loads of entertainment as they flock excitedly from one end of the property to the other hunting bugs and grubs. On sunny days, you can watch them lazing in the sunshine, digging their dust bath areas in the warm soft soil. You can almost hear them sigh with contentment.
There are downsides. If you’ve ever made the mistake of throwing your girls a treat from your front porch. Or, If you are plagued with chicken poop on your porch, there are solutions for keeping chickens off your porch.
Tips For Keeping Chickens Off The Porch
Coop Proximity
It’s best to lock your chickens in a coop during the evening to provide shelter, give them a safe place to roost, and to protect them from predators. Providing nesting boxes gives them a secure place to lay their eggs and makes the eggs much easier to collect. If you are fortunate enough to be able to let them out and free-range during the day, place the coop as far away from your home as the property allows. While it may be convenient to have it close to the house, you will have a much easier time persuading the girls to stay off your porch.
Routine Feeding Area
Depending on the variety of chickens you are raising, some breeds will be more aloof while others will actually seek out the attention of humans. This will be multiplied exponentially if they find out you have, or are, a source of food. The trick is to get your chickens to associate food with an area instead of a person.
When feeding treats or their main meal, keep a routine to the feeding and only feed in or near the coop. If they learn this is their designated area to eat, they will be more inclined to hang out there area as they are extremely food-driven birds.
In order to really keep their attention on the coop as a source of food, find ways to suspend treats and inventive ways to make them work for their food. This will aid in keeping the flock local and help prevent them from wandering too far away in search of snacks. Self-feeders are great and should always be kept full of food.
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Porch Problems
Free-range chickens are notorious for their desire to hang out on porches. Never leave dog or cat food on dishes on your porch because that will quickly become a lure and your entire flock will be fighting over that delicious snack. Once they have a taste for it they will be back. Be sure there are no feeders close to your house that may present a temptation to your seed-seeking hens.
While chickens don’t have huge brains, they do figure out that humans provide food. They will try and test the boundaries of your porch area to scout out possible meals from humans. If you find them hanging around the front door, or perching on the porch rails and benches, you need to discourage this behavior as soon as it occurs. It might seem cute that they came to visit you, but it will get old quickly when you have to scrape chicken poop off the bottom of your shoes every time you walk into the house.
Automated Predators/Animals
There are several methods used to discourage porch behavior that don’t include running out the door screaming like an angry banshee with your broom in hand. This traditional method may not be enough to deter the behavior. Some of the success stories include the following deterrents:
- Mechanized animals that move automatically to scare the birds
- Animated natural predators that make sounds when approached
- Motion-activated sprinkler system or manual set to go off several times a day
How To Prevent Chickens From Perching on Porches
Your girls may be good at staying away during the day, but you may find piles of poo where they have been perching on the porch at night. The main reason for this is that your porch may provide a higher perch than they have in their coop. Chickens will always seek the highest perching option as it offers safety and a better vantage point.
One recommendation is to build a movable perch higher than your porch. Place it close to the house. Allow the chickens to get comfortable on it then slowly move it away from the house and toward the coop.
You can also provide deterrents on the rails they like to perch upon. Hang plants or string a line across the middle using tall nails to hold the string above the rail. You may have seen this tactic at the beach or shore to keep seagulls from perching on rails. It works for chickens as well.
Animals have been used with some success to keep chickens away from the house. Adding a rooster to the flock if you don’t already have one may work as roosters can be protective and keep the flock close to their home. Guard dogs have been used by tying them to the porch or training them to keep the chickens away. The dog method may fail miserably if your dog is not well trained and ends up hurting or killing the chickens.
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Until next time.
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[Related] How to keep Chickens out of garden.
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