Bamboo plants in run

[lotsachicks]

I have a rather large run, about 50 x 50, and live in S. Texas, so no trees and such for protective cover for my flock. I was thinking of planting bamboo for fast growth to provide cover for the girls and a cool place to hang out on our super hot summers. Do you think it could work?? I know I would have to keep the birds from eating it until it reached some size, but really need to start thinking about shade and protective cover. TIA

 

[MamaChic21]

you've got one HUGE run there, wow

but don't you have predators ?

 

[Imp]

I have 2 varieties of bamboo in my yard. Golden bamboo and another 2 ft variety. The chickens do not eat either. In fact it is a favorite place for them to hide.

Imp

 

[EMAW]

Just research your choice of bamboo carefully. Growing up my grandmother decided she liked the look of it and planted some. Well soon after that part of our "chores" during our summer visits to Grandma's was trying to control the spread of the bamboo. It grew to 10-15 feet tall and would provide great shade and a good hiding place for cotton tails, and some 30 years later it has managed to survive the KS summers/winters. Sounds like it might be a good idea, just research and choose the type of bamboo that fits your needs.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
EMAW is very correct Bamboo can be very invasive. It is said when you plant it in your yard it will: Sleep (the first year) Creep (the second year and Leap (the third year). I have had mine for about 13 years and it is just getting annoying now. There are clumping bamboos that are less invasive than running bamboos. I am not anywhere near the point of trying to kill it all, in fact I still look longingly at timber bamboo.

Here's some great information:

http://www.bamboogardenswa.com/

If you are interested I need to clean out some of the 2 ft tall bamboo. It gets cream colored stripes in the new growth, prefers shade. very pretty. I can send you some of the roots. If you are interested I'll send you the info on the variety it is. Don't feel like looking it up this late.

Imp

 

[Rowtag]

As has been stated, pick your bamboo carefully. We inherited bamboo with this property and we can't keep it cut down fast enough, and years after you have cleared an area sprouts will still come up from time to time. I love the look of it though and all the animals like to hang out in it.

 

[Royd]

I have a stand, in my backyard...It's the stuff that grows 40 feet tall and 2 1/2" across, in one season, but it spreads very slowly, and it's the best gardening tool, ever. Not to mention, a hundred other uses.

If the hens decide that's the place to nest, you may just spend days looking at your eggs, unless you cut it down...Also, it's a great place for snakes to hide.

 

[BWKatz]

I had been thinking about bamboo in the pen also. Snakes? I think I'll leave it at the end of the property 2 acres away.

 

[elmo]

I have bamboo in our yard and I love it. You will have to protect the new shoots from the chickens for the first year or two. After that it should be large enough to fend for itself!

Bamboo sends out runners in the spring. If a shoot comes up somewhere you don't want it, just cut it off right at ground level. It won't grow any more for the year. New shoots grow very fast in the spring. I swear I've measured some of ours shooting up a nearly a foot in a single day!

 

[rebelcowboysnb]

Bamboo is very chicken hearty an can run away but is easy to control an kill if needed. Its a matter of timing your work.