Seriously tough herbs needed - recommendations?

[carolinew]

My ornamental garden plans have gone up the swanny, having met with a serious reality check in the form of 3 hens and 1 staffordshire bull puppy! I'm now wondering which plants are tough enough to withstand being nibbled on, and romped through / rolled over?! I thought that herbs might be a good idea. They have a reputation for being tough, would be good for the hens, and be dual purpose. Does anyone have any recommendations? Or should I just give up on having a nice garden and leave the animals to be happy?

The back border only gets late afternoon sun, although the soil is good. The side border has sun for most of the day.

[moocher]

id give up my staff when it was a pup used to pick up grow bags and rag them around till the tomato plants flew out and the bags broke up.

[Peggy Sue]

I've got a Staffie too, she's not a pup but as I dig the allotment she will copy digging in some random place....sometimes where you ahve just sewn something you have tended carefully for months

Got to say she doesn't seem interested in hardy herbs, especially the well established rosemary and thyme, the most trouble I ahve is with pumpkin...she will just knaw on thoses. Personally I grow lots to acocunt for dog damage, seems easier

[invisiblepiper]

Try creeping varieties (of herbs -not dogs!) - such as thyme, mints and chamomile. Good luck.

[Andy Hamilton]

Rosemary might be good as long as you get it going first. Second and third year onwards it can be massive.

Mint springs to mind as it is always a job keeping that in check.

[Shirley]

My chickens don't really touch the herbs - though they eat everything else in sight :-) We'd had rosemary in a herb bed for a while and it was doing really well but then the goats escaped and demolished it in about 10 seconds.

[Millymollymandy]

Awww Shirley! I'm glad I don't have goats or I wouldn't have any ornamental garden to speak of! (I know I shouldn't laugh really but they must have had nice breath for a while )