Any reason I can't put conchord grape vines around the chicken run?

[jophoto]

I've been looking for vines to climb the sides of the chicken run for aesthetics, as you can see our coop and run from the road since we decided to put it on the side of our property for easier access. Our coop is so cute, matches our house perfectly, but the run of course isn't as cute because it's welded wire and the mesh stuff - I mean, DH is doing an AMAZING job, I can't wait to share pics of the completed project, but it needs to be "landscaped in", I think...

I was going to put clematis everywhere, but then found out it was poisonous to chickens... so I looked up all kinds of vines - English Ivy, you name it, it was poisonous - either cyanogenic properties or hallucinogens or gastrointestinal... geesh!

So the only thing I found that didn't seem poisonous is grape vines...

What do you think?

 

[sparkles2307]

No idea but am anxiously watching so I know what to put on mine!

 

[lux_interior]

I'm sure it would be fine, but I'm also sure that the chickens will eat all the grapes, and possibly some leaves... Grapes are a treat for chickens!

 

[jophoto]

would it be better if I get seedless or does it matter?

 

[sparkles2307]

Would the vines pull the run fence down after a few years? I dont have experience with grapevines, dont know if they get too heavy or what? That is such a good and pretty idea tho, I am definitely going to try that...Unless my plans for bringing back some Washington blackberry vines in July works.....

 

[Oblio13]

We have seedless Concord, Himrod and Canadice grapes planted around our coop. The seedless Concords are our favorites. The chickens eat all the leaves and grapes they can reach. They also eat all the Japanese beetles they can catch, and of course provide fertilizer, so I figure it's a fair trade.

 

[jophoto]

oh wonderful, great info!!! Yes, I actually just placed an online order for seedless concord so woohoo, they are coming!

 

[dipence71]

Wow why didn't I think of that???? I just planted grapes on my fence (other part of yard) Now may have to go buy more to plant on chick run as my ladies "go completely nuts"

over grapes. My DD11 just begs me to let her give them a grape and watch the fun. Only problem ... I like to eat the grapes too but watching them is awfully entertaining....6 one way 1/2 dozen the other..eat or play

??? HHHHMMMMM maybe both!!!

 

[GardeNerd]

My coop doesn't have grapes on it, but I have 5 established grapes vines. I regularly break branches off and give them to the chickens and tortoise. They love them! They just don't eat the stems.

 

[Cluckatar]

You mentioned that ivy is poisonous to chickens. We're also in the process of building our coop, and although we're not planting any ivy on purpose... eliminating it is a failed proposition in the area where we need to put our coop. Does anyone know how worried I should be about ivy near our chicken run? It's mixed in with wild blackberry as well, on the opposite side of a 4" spaced iron rail fence, so there is quite a lot of it poking through no matter what we do. I've just started grapes in a nearby area as well, so maybe they'll be too busy trying to get at those. Thanks for any ideas