Green coop again..?

[chickenlover4lifee]

My chickens have eaten EVERYTHING that was once alive in their run, and I want them to have plants again for shade and spots to play around/hide under. Are there any perennials that they won’t eat but that also aren’t harmful to them that I could plant in their coop?

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

How big is your run? (Would you have a picture?)
And do your chickens freerange during the day...?

...For shade and windbreak for my chickens and ducks, I like to use Rosemary and Medicinal Sage one next to the other : they grow big, are good for (your) health, stay green even in winter, have beautiful flowers that attrack a lot of insects... and chickens don't eat them!
(My birds really like to rest between these plants : they are protected from the weather, and they even feel safe there since they can hide from birds of prey...)

You also could plant Lavender, Carnation, and Blue (Perennial) Flax : chickens won't hurt them. (At least if they have enough of space!)

And don't forget small fruit trees to add colours and food - among others : Cassis, Blackberries (Thornfree), Raspberries, Currants, etc... even Grapes!!
(Chickens will eat the fruits they can catch, but they won't hurt the plants themselves.)

 

[chickenlover4lifee]

Awesome that’s super helpful, thank you. The chickens stay in the run during the day but we let them out in our yard when we are home because I live near other houses. Would hostas be okay to go in the coop as well? I have a lot of them already, so just thought I should ask.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

Awesome that’s super helpful, thank you.

You are welcome!

Would hostas be okay to go in the coop as well? I have a lot of them already, so just thought I should ask.

From what I know, hostas are not toxic to chickens...?
But I can't tell if your birds will eat them or not, given I have no hostas in my yard...

 

[Papaye]

Just to show you, @chickenlover4lifee, I took pictures of two rosemaries I planted together in the past with two medicinal sages...

See how big they got?
Although I have heavily pruned them some months ago...!

My chickens, my ducks, stray cats (and KITTENS)... animals like to hide and play in there.
(That's funny to see cats, chickens, and ducks sleeping together in there...)
I even have some chickens that like to perch on the rosemaries...!!

Roots are strong, so even if chickens want to dig holes, these plants will still survive with no problem once they have taken roots...

(They have actually grown so big I had to put a garden box there just so I could still walk around my house; ah, ah!)

 

[aart]

Chances are that in a run, any plants will get chewed on and/or scratched up. Fro shade might have to put up some shade cloths and/or put plants outside the run to provide shade.

 

[paintedChix]

Many plants will work inside a run - just protect the roots at least while they are getting established. That can be done with large rocks or boards, chunks of tree stumps, etc. Or you can put up a small fence encirlcling the plant - a ring of chicken wire, 2x4 wire.

Yesterday, I read a thread that had pictures of grape vines growing outside the run & vining up/over it to create shade.

Here are links I made in a thread a while ago! -

-Post in thread "Growing something in the run" - 'https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/growing-something-in-the-run.1589707/post-27075169

-Post in thread 'Plants for in a run' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/plants-for-in-a-run.1590324/post-27075150

There are A LOT of threads, but this is fun & will get you well started.

BTW - Where are you located? AART usually comes on and let's folks know how to show where in the world u are. I can't always tell while I'm on the phone, so if you already stated, sorry I asked again...

How many chickens in your run? Are they chicks or mature? What breeds?

 

[paintedChix]

& here is one I forgot!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ini-forest-for-chickens.1540569/post-25995349

 

[chickenlover4lifee]

Just to show you, @chickenlover4lifee, I took pictures of two rosemaries I planted together in the past with two medicinal sages...

View attachment 3846141

See how big they got?
Although I have heavily pruned them some months ago...!

View attachment 3846148

My chickens, my ducks, stray cats (and KITTENS)... animals like to hide and play in there.
(That's funny to see cats, chickens, and ducks sleeping together in there...)
I even have some chickens that like to perch on the rosemaries...!!

Roots are strong, so even if chickens want to dig holes, these plants will still survive with no problem once they have taken roots...

View attachment 3846149

(They have actually grown so big I had to put a garden box there just so I could still walk around my house; ah, ah!)

That’s beautiful!! Thanks so much, I’m going to try that.