Chickenhouse greenery

[Townmouse]

Hi all,

I'd like to plant a vine on my wire chicken yard to provide some summer shade and winter rain defense. I planted an evergreen clematis and then read somewhere it is poisonous. Anyone know what kind of evergreen vine would work for protection while not harming my flock of peck-at-everything-green girls? Or has anyone used clematis and had no problems?

Thanks, Townmouse

 

[cookinmom]

A grapevine won't hurt 'em; neither will honeysuckle. You might want to stake it for the first few feet, and then let it go over onto the wire. My honeysuckle vine just can't get more than about a foot tall, because they keep reaching through the wire and eating it. I have cucumbers growing along one side of the run, and I tied them to the wire about 3 ft up. They still jump up and grab a leaf here and there, but it doesn't cause much damage. They are annual though, so they won't do shade for very long.

 

[Royal Oaks Ranch]

Some told me Scarlet runnerbean and hyacinth...... I got some Im going to try.. But yep I can see where keeping the chickens away from it would be a good thing...

 

[kstaven]

Hops vines work well for shade and grow very quickly.

 

[justusnak]

You might think of planting a Willow Hybrid Tree.
These are not the weeping willow....but grow very fast. 6 ft a year.!! We have several growing here...and when the new coop is donw, will be planting a few for thier shady area. Just takes 1 year to make great shade!

 

[chickaboo7]

I'm going to try vinica vine. It spreads like wildfire and has pretty little purple flowers. where can we get info on chicken safe plants?