Any one know can I put columnar apple trees in chicken coop?

[kristin07035]

Hi I have columnar apple trees and the deer love them :*( currently the only fenced area i have is my chicken coop.
Can I put the planters in the coop or will the chickens eat/kill the trees?

 

[Mister B]

I have a plum tree in my coop. they eat the leaves off the bottom, but if they had more greens to eat they may not.

 

[kristin07035]

Thats what I thought but was hoping otherwise. They are young trees only purchased them last year so not very tall yet.

 

[Mister B]

They will only eat the leaves up as high as they can reach. So, if they are container plants, you could put them on a couple concrete blocks or something.

 

[lazy gardener]

I kept a couple of big flower pots beside my coop last summer. I put a ring of 12" high wire border type of fencing in each pot, and it did a wonderful job. The girls plucked some of the foliage that they could reach through the wire, but otherwise did not molest the flowers.

 

[kristin07035]

Was thinking of trying something like that. Thanks glad it can work!

I kept a couple of big flower pots beside my coop last summer.  I put a ring of 12" high wire border type of fencing in each pot, and it did a wonderful job.  The girls plucked some of the foliage that they could reach through the wire, but otherwise did not molest the flowers.

 

[saltandpepper2]

I don't think they will bother with them that much. I have 2- 4 year old semi dwarf apple trees out where my chickens free range, and I have had no problem what-so ever! Now, my blueberries are another story! I've seen the sit there, and jump up to get the berries, lol. But the apple trees don't hold their interest. That might change when they're in fruit though. If you are still worried, just put the pots on some blocks to make them too high for the chickens to be able to pluck off the leaves.