chickens in a suburban garden

[ooharmehearties]

I've been planning to have two or three chickens, mainly as pets, but I have a standard sized lawn not a large garden.
My neighbour used to keep chickens and said they destroyed his garden and turned it into a quagmire, so now am having a wobble. What do you think? I kept chickens at my old childhood home but it was a huge garden with their own large section.
My 4yr old dd is looking forward to them, now am wondering if Guinea pigs might be more appropriate.

I would definitely go for guinea pigs. They can help trim the lawn for you!

Chickens will make dust baths in any open earth (flowerbeds, veg patch etc.) They're not as easy to pick up and stroke as guineas, they make jerky movements and might peck.

If you do get chickens I would certainly fence them off from the main garden if you have space. Otherwise you are out in the summer accidental stepping I chicken poo and they dig up all the flower beds. They do make lovely pets though!

We have chickens in our garden, it's a larger garden than average (but not enormous).

We keep them in their run (it's the Omlete one with the extension) as otherwise in the summer there are flies everywhere from the chicken poo all over the garden.

We have chipping in their run and a powder to put down to eat up the chicken poo smell.