Climbing plants for run.

[kalsea]

Hops vines are beautiful!! But what do you do w/ it? Is it feed for chickens? Do you make beer? What variety (s) do you have...

Several folk I've spoken w/ say it can be really invasive. In your experience, is that true?

Vines grow well here, don't want to have something that can/will take off like kudzu. Hah - if kudzu didn't grow SOOO fast, it's fantastic. Goats, sheep, chickens & my ponies all eat it. But, no, not ready for that. On public areas near us, both counties spray to kill it off.

In Colorado the Cascade varietal dies completely back to the ground every winter and I'm able to cut the rhizomes in half to keep them in check. If it freezes where you're at it will be a great plant. I haven't had any issues with it taking over and running amok. We personally just love how beautiful they look and let the pollinators enjoy the flowers- but beer and tinctures can be made from them

 

[mopalia]

What type of grapes & how long have you had them on the CP trellis?

I have Diamond Muscat, which is the one the chickens love - the grapes are small and easy to eat. I also had what was supposed to be a Thomcord on the other side of the arch, but it was not true to type, so I've replaced it with another Thomcord. I think any grape would work, but the small fruited wine grapes or champagne grapes might be most popular. The Muscat has been in about 6 years, but it gave excellent coverage in the first year. I haven't pruned them the way vineyards do, it's a pretty random structure, so it has great leaf coverage. The trellis is not having any trouble supporting them. I cut them back pretty severely in the winter.

 

[Love Donkeys]

If it doesn't have to be climbing plants then you might consider mulberry. I have a mulberry tree/shrub growing in my chicken's run and between the chickens fertilizing it and me dumping their soiled water on it, it grows like crazy. It gives them shade in the summer and since it's deciduous it lets the sun warm the run in the winter. They love to eat the leaves and they keep the lower leaves cleaned off. I top it regularly and give it to them. That makes it spread more, so more shade.

Some cities and states prohibited the planting of Mulberry trees because they are considered invasive. They also produce heavy pollen that can cause allergic reactions....

 

[perkolator]

The last two years I’ve been trying to grow more plants around the run. Finally figured out I need to put up fence barriers to keep chickens from scratching them up!

Last year I did cucumbers (my chicks always like cukes) and started some sweet potato slips, chocolate mint, and a tree collard. I think I tried starting beans/peas like 4x.

Currently have a ton of pea sprouts going strong now that I blocked them off from chickens.

Hops look nice but I would not want to actually use any hops grown near my chickens area - I’d imagine their dust bathing would contribute some funk inside the many hops crevices

 

[DreamertK]

Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, melon, tomato, basically any vine veggie/fruit that's safe for chickens to eat!

We did green beans directly in front of the run this summer, which aren't safe for chickens to eat raw in large amounts, but the girls didn't have much interest in them. They ate pieces of the leaves occasionally but not enough to get sick, and left the beans alone. They also ate some tomato leaves, and both green and ripe tomatoes from the garden without consequence.

I think there are thornless rose varieties. Raspberries are another option. The only worry I really have with thorns is around the face, since feathers protect their bodies. We've had some scrapes and scratches from the wild raspberry and other thorny bushes growing around here but nothing serious.

Aren't the leaves/greenery of tomatoes still poisonous? Some people say chickens won't eat it, but then you do get the occasional poster whose chicken did eat it and perished.

I don't think the fruit will get big enough before the chickens feast on those! If it's full sun, I'd suggest sunflowers, you can cut the heads off and give them to the chicks.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

Aren't the leaves/greenery of tomatoes still poisonous? Some people say chickens won't eat it, but then you do get the occasional poster whose chicken did eat it and perished.

I see lots of the "chickens won't eat it" and lots of "it's poisonous", but I don't know that I've ever seen someone who claims this actually happened to them. It's always their uncle's neighbors grandmother's friend from when they were young.

 

[Barbours]

Heeeeey everybody!
I am wondering what kind of climbing plants would be safe to plant around my run to provide a natural shade during the summer. I would want them to climb the wire and fencing of the run. I live in Northern New Hampshire and I am wondering what kind I can use. You can look at my channel on YouTube and see my run. And if you could tell me what kind of plants would work, that would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!

I have tomatoes on mine and the birds like to eat them off the vine

 

[dirkandlorie]

Some climbing peas like snow peas would be cool! And the chickens could enjoy a snack

I've seen some people do climbing roses but then there is a risk of the chickens getting pricked by a thorn

there are quite a few varieties of climbing thornless roses, zephrin drouhin comes to mind.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Grapes have worked well for me. They have to be growing in the opposite side of a fence and drape over the chickens, because they eat every leaf and grape they can reach!

My grapes were in a shallow strip (about two feet wide of shade) but provided thick shade that the chickens LOVED! Once the cover even protected them from a hawk!

 

[Thymewarrior]

Some cities and states prohibited the planting of Mulberry trees because they are considered invasive. They also produce heavy pollen that can cause allergic reactions....

I never knew mulberrys were considered invasive in some places. I love them because they grow well, provide shade, are a treat for my rabbits and the chickens love the leaves. Where I am they are not at all invasive. I guess the pollen could be a problem for some people.