My wife's acer (changed by Mod)

[zedhead]

I have got to the stage of planning the run and have cleared an area my only problem is that my wife's favorite Acer is in the middle of it, it stands about 1.5m high and the foliage starts about 40cm from the ground. My question is will the chickens damage it or will the cover benefit them.

If the birds and the bush can live together in harmony that would be great but if they would damage it it will need moving.

Thanks for looking
Barry

Note from MOD, Barry I had to change your cheeky thread title because it was a bit too cheeky for the forum.

[Mad Chick]

I would move it if you can

Some bushes stand up well to chooks while others will be decimated within hours - an acer, with it's feathers leaves I think will be too tempting.

[Maggie1]

Personally I would move it as chickens seem to eat anything. It doesn't seem to big a plant so as long as you dig a big enough hole around the roots and get the rootball in one you should be OK.

[sazchops]

I'd be very careful, I moved a plant next to an Acer ( hubbys favourite ) must have nicked a root, the acer promptly died. It is not really the best time of year for moving trees, make sure you give it lots of water.

[milli]

I would move it too, I was told they wouldn't bother with my lovely Gertude Jekkyl ( sorry not sure about spelling her name ) roses, they demolished every leaf right up to the blooms, so just had stalks with flowers on the top
So if moving, I would dig a big hole, fill it with a bucket of water before moving the Acer with as big a root ball as you can get, and keep giving it a drink a day until it's settled in. Good luck and hope you don't lose it. Only other option is wait and see what the girls do and then move it later in the year.

[Panteg Produce]

I've moved our Acer many times and is still thriving,so I should move it while you can.

[ChickyBoo4]

I'd definitely move it after watching the lengths our girls have gone to reach some tasty looking foliage better to be safe than sorry...

[wendy]

I moved an Acer a couple of years ago and it is still going strong.
But to be honest if you value a plant, I wouldn't risk it.

[zedhead]

Thank you for the replies, I think we should move it, just got to find somewhere for it to go now, still not sure when the birds are coming so will leave it as late as possible.

You have a mind like a sewer Mod lol sorry new here

Barry