plants for my run

If you put plants inside the run, the chickens will eat them down to the ground.

 

What I did was to plant along the fencing outside the run, so that the chickens could reach the leaves as they grew through the fencing.

 

I have seen pictures of plants planted in the run, but protected by fencing.  Some plant grasses in flats and place them in the run with 1/2 inch hardware cloth over the grass to allow the chickens to eat down only so far without killing the grass.

 

Left to themselves, the chickens will reduce the run to a barren area.

 

Chris

I actually just bought plants for the sole purpose of making shade for our run. 3 Wisteria, 3 blackberry bushes and one grape vine. I think I'll be planting them on the outside of the run, but they be able to reach through to eat, and when they free range the yard. I'm hoping to add more as we go along. I'd also like to know if there's anything terrible poisonous that I shouldn't plant.

Have you tried the pizza box method? Get a pizza box and fill it with soil and plant some grains(rye, alphalfa, amaryanth) sprout the seed and place the box in your run! I have a tractor with 16 chicks in and they love the fresh greens! As for planting in the run.... outside is best! Grapes do very well in pots and are great treats for smart chicks that figure out how to get to the fruit! And in a years time the run area will be covered with grapevines! That means more grapes next season!
Have fun! Dont forget pics! Good luck!

@Ashdoes- I just read yesterday that wisteria could be toxic.You may want to double check that before hand. ;)

Well dang...from what I'm reading there are TONS of plants that are poisonous to chickens. Well, it's ok I guess, I've got a bajillion other places for the Wisteria. Thanks itsbadlands.

I almost bought wisteria and then read that. I also couldn't find concrete info on other flowering vines so I bought 2 grapes to plant outside the run. One seems to be dying already but the other one looks good. I also planted two mulberry trees outside the run. I transplanted those into gallon size pots last fall (from the yard-they grow all over the place here) and then transplanted them this spring outside the run. One seems to be dying but it's hard to kill a mulberry tree so I'm hoping it grows.

I'm trying to picture this. Do you mean to completely enclose the plants with a wooden fence of sorts and then drill holes in the wood? If the top is open they should get enough sun and water but it seems like a lot of work to put wood around them. How about using chicken wire instead? We planted one tree inside the run in the corner and put chicken wire up around it (easy, since it was in the corner). Unfortunately the tree is doing terribly. It's a mulberry tree also so it may come back to life someday.

i planted pigeon peas (called gandudi here ) in one the birds were not impressed

2nd try pots of covercrop which is a mix of legumes i believe, now just rotate pots but you know how chickens like whats just out of reach of the pen,? planting garden along run souds like great idea

 

when they hit the garden they head straight for the swiss chard and manoa lettuce

If your going to do grapes, i would suggest getting a native variety that is hardy, many of the eating and/or wine-making grapes need specific climates and lots of spraying to thrive. More care than most folks want to do. Muscadine grapes are generally hardy and easier to care for. In my area blackberries do well. I would get the thornless kind. Thornless climbing roses can be nice. Everything needs cutting back and maintained. If you plant something in the run, it will have to be protected and watered in the coop (mud for chickens is messy). A fig tree would be nice. I think the mulberry tree idea is an excellent choice. I also really like the pizza box idea. I'm going to try that idea.