[bomere]

My neighbours chickens keep escaping and appear to spend most of their time in my veg plot.

Are they a help in keeping down pests, or a nusiance spoiling the crops?

I havn't found where they are laying eggs yet, but two of the hens are looking nice and fat

[Sal1610]

They'll clear the slugs and snails for you, but they'll also shred your salads if they get a  chance! My chickens will peck anything green! I let them go on the vegetable patch over the winter, and haven't had any slug problems this year at all, but I had to move them out when they were pulling up the beans I'd just planted, and scattering seeds as they scratched in the soil.

So I'd say your invasion is a mixed blessing

[bomere]

Thanks, looks like I'm going to have to mend the fences

[Bernard]

Of course, very good news if you grab the chickens and/or eggs