Garden next to coop.

[Dogfish]

My garden and coop share 20' of fence. I'd like to plat something there the chickens like and can safely eat everything from. Peas? Green beans? I see peas with a (.) on the treat chart, and green beans were also good, I think. Anyway a confirmation of this would be great. Thanks!

 

[Imp]

It's been a couple years but I used to plant sugar snap peas. I got the pods. the chickens got the leaves and shoots.

Imp

 

[Dogfish]

Cool. I don't mind if they get some peas as well. I know they'll get lots of treats from the garden.

 

[zatsdeb]

we don't let our chickens in the garden, they pick holes in the tomatoes and anything else they can get their little beaks on. they also scratch up any young tender plants that are growing. guineas usually do better, they just look for bugs.

 

[Akane]

I've got peas, morning glory, and nasturtiums along the fence bordering my chicken run and garden. Make sure the plants have time to grow before the chickens can reach them or you'll have a clear fence line by the end of the week.

 

[Dogfish]

They'll only get access to the garden in the fall, winter, and early spring. Once the vegies are in, they will be locked out. Thanks for the advice.

 

[zatsdeb]

we have a 6 foot fence around the entire garden, and have 1 hen all last year that kept flying over the fence and getting in there! I guess she thought it was her private garden of paradise!!!

 

[Rainbow Advaya]

I have a book called City Chicks and the author plants gardens enclosed in chicken wire so that the chickens can graze by sticking their heads through, but not damage the entire plants behind repair. She specifically plants comfrey for them. There's another photo of zucchini in a chicken wire cage and the chickens nibble the bottom zucchinis but leave the top ones.

 

[Cluckhead]

Quote:
I read that Morning Glory is poisonous.

http://www.pawsdogdaycare.com/Start-Up-Services/Plants-Poisonous-To-Pets-Morning-Glory.htm

 

[Akane]

A chicken is not a dog. They are often used to kill a variety of morning glory here that poisons livestock. Also unless penned with that as their only green they will rarely eat things that are truly poisonous to them. I've got far worse things growing across this property and my free ranging chickens never touch any of it.

They'll only get access to the garden in the fall, winter, and early spring. Once the vegies are in, they will be locked out. Thanks for the advice.

This works fine for things in the garden but not on the fence. They'll peck through the fence and the vines will grow through the fence. You can't use climbers on the fence without the chickens getting it and they may kill it before the plant gets big enough. If you have a large fenceline, alot of plants, and few chickens this is not an issue. If they have tons of other greens it may not be an issue. Otherwise you'll have to find a way to start the plants back from the fence so the chickens don't get them until they can survive some pecking.​