Had an idea

[Jeff_Stone]

nice set up. what plants are safe for pheasants? blueberries probably wouldn't survive summer heat and drought here.

You're right that blueberries might struggle in intense summer heat and drought conditions. Instead, consider these pheasant-safe, heat- and drought-tolerant plants:

Berries & Fruits:​

Mulberries – Hardy, drought-resistant, and loved by birds.
Elderberries – Grow well in many climates and provide nutritious berries.
Serviceberries – Tolerant of various conditions, excellent for wildlife.
Hackberry – A native tree that provides small berries.
Persimmons – Great for game birds in hot climates.

Grains & Seeds (if it helps):​

Millet – Easy to grow, drought-hardy, and a favorite food source.
Sorghum – Thrives in heat and produces high-energy seeds.
Sunflowers – Provide shade and nutritious seeds.

Shrubs & Cover Plants (if it also helps):​

Buffaloberry – Drought-hardy and produces edible berries.
Chokecherry – Grows well in dry areas, though berries are bitter.
Russian Olive – Hardy, drought-resistant, and provides shelter.

Ground Cover & Forage Plants (ditto):​

Clover – Helps soil and provides grazing material.
Alfalfa – Nutritious and drought-resistant.
Native grasses (Little Bluestem, Switchgrass) – Provide cover and food.

Would any of these work for your climate?

 

[RojoMarz]

I'm not the OP...we are a couple hours SW of Colorado Springs and have lived in the Denver metro area. Russian Olive does grows here in Colorado, but it's also on the invasive species list.

 

[ChaosMom]

I'm not the OP...we are a couple hours SW of Colorado Springs and have lived in the Denver metro area. Russian Olive does grows here in Colorado, but it's also on the invasive species list.

I was coming here to say that. It is spread very enthusiastically, and it outcompetes many natives. In my area, we often use serviceberry (Amelanchier) or red chokeberry (Aronia) instead.

Possible Google search terms for your area:
native substitute [state/ province/ region] for russian olive

 

[Eddie the Yeti]

nice set up. what plants are safe for pheasants? blueberries probably wouldn't survive summer heat and drought here.

I googled it and most berries and even some flowering shrubs seemed OK. The are supposed to like "dense shrubs" so I looked at what was here at the local Lowes. I am in San Antonio, TX. Lots of privets and langustrum, but it seemed like the blueberries had the added benefit of berries. My grandson loves blueberries and the birds have already been eating the leaves. Berries are very green still. Biggest concern was how to control where the eggs go if the birds wont use a laying box. Plus this is a hobby, not a business or how I feed us, so I feel like I can experiment a bit get there by trial and error.

 

[Eddie the Yeti]

I guess I should update my info, not in Colorado Springs anymore, I am in San Antonio, Texas now.

 

[chickengr]

You're right that blueberries might struggle in intense summer heat and drought conditions. Instead, consider these pheasant-safe, heat- and drought-tolerant plants:

Berries & Fruits:​

Mulberries – Hardy, drought-resistant, and loved by birds.
Elderberries – Grow well in many climates and provide nutritious berries.
Serviceberries – Tolerant of various conditions, excellent for wildlife.
Hackberry – A native tree that provides small berries.
Persimmons – Great for game birds in hot climates.

Grains & Seeds (if it helps):​

Millet – Easy to grow, drought-hardy, and a favorite food source.
Sorghum – Thrives in heat and produces high-energy seeds.
Sunflowers – Provide shade and nutritious seeds.

​

Shrubs & Cover Plants (if it also helps):​

Buffaloberry – Drought-hardy and produces edible berries.
Chokecherry – Grows well in dry areas, though berries are bitter.
Russian Olive – Hardy, drought-resistant, and provides shelter.

Ground Cover & Forage Plants (ditto):​

Clover – Helps soil and provides grazing material.
Alfalfa – Nutritious and drought-resistant.
Native grasses (Little Bluestem, Switchgrass) – Provide cover and food.

Would any of these work for your climate?

thank you. trees don't fit the run's height. I live in greece. we don't have some of mentioned berries. any grass would die in may. I planted serviceberries last year but it does not look alive. I'll leave it alone, it might get leaves later.

we do have privets. I also have a few japanese cheesewood - pittosporum tobira. would that be safe for birds?

 

[Jeff_Stone]

thank you. trees don't fit the run's height. I live in greece. we don't have some of mentioned berries. any grass would die in may. I planted serviceberries last year but it does not look alive. I'll leave it alone, it might get leaves later.

we do have privets. I also have a few japanese cheesewood - pittosporum tobira. would that be safe for birds?

Ahh now all becomes clear. We switch modes and start thinking Greek chicken math—where the sun melts everything but your determination!

QUICK ANSWERS:​

The drawn out "hmmm" Privets (Ligustrum? I'll assume so):

• Technically ‘safe’ (not toxic), but not nutritious—more like just bird exterior decorating.
• Risk: If they gorge on berries, as some can, mild abdominal upset.

Japanese Cheesewood (Pittosporum):

• Non-toxic (hooray!), but chickens can do often do ignore it (they think woah--boring foliage).

Survival Options for Harsh climate (scorched Earth) Chicken Runs:​

1. Prickly Pear (Opuntia):

WHY? Drought-proof, provides shade + fruit (peel spines first!).

2. Olive Leaves/Branches:

Plentiful in Greece! Chickens LOVE to peck leaves (entertainment leads here to good nutrition).

++ALSO++

Shade Cloth + Misters:

Make like a DIY ‘desert oasis’ (hang damp burlap for evaporative cooling, works very well out where I am in the Summer, too).

SERVICEBERRY LAST HOPE:​

TEST: Scratch the bark—if it’s green inside, it’s alive. Greek sun might’ve just sent it to the shadow realm temporarily.

Hoping it helps!

 

[chickengr]

Ahh now all becomes clear. We switch modes and start thinking Greek chicken math—where the sun melts everything but your determination!

QUICK ANSWERS:​

The drawn out "hmmm" Privets (Ligustrum? I'll assume so):

• Technically ‘safe’ (not toxic), but not nutritious—more like just bird exterior decorating.
• Risk: If they gorge on berries, as some can, mild abdominal upset.

Japanese Cheesewood (Pittosporum):

• Non-toxic (hooray!), but chickens can do often do ignore it (they think woah--boring foliage).

Survival Options for Harsh climate (scorched Earth) Chicken Runs:​

1. Prickly Pear (Opuntia):

WHY? Drought-proof, provides shade + fruit (peel spines first!).

2. Olive Leaves/Branches:

Plentiful in Greece! Chickens LOVE to peck leaves (entertainment leads here to good nutrition).

++ALSO++

Shade Cloth + Misters:

Make like a DIY ‘desert oasis’ (hang damp burlap for evaporative cooling, works very well out where I am in the Summer, too).

SERVICEBERRY LAST HOPE:​

TEST: Scratch the bark—if it’s green inside, it’s alive. Greek sun might’ve just sent it to the shadow realm temporarily.

Hoping it helps!

I went to check serviceberry and saw the very first leave

when prickly pear by the road recovers (from freezing) I will pick up some and plant for my yellow and lady pheasants (a pair of each).

 

[chickengr]

I googled it and most berries and even some flowering shrubs seemed OK. The are supposed to like "dense shrubs" so I looked at what was here at the local Lowes. I am in San Antonio, TX. Lots of privets and langustrum, but it seemed like the blueberries had the added benefit of berries. My grandson loves blueberries and the birds have already been eating the leaves. Berries are very green still. Biggest concern was how to control where the eggs go if the birds wont use a laying box. Plus this is a hobby, not a business or how I feed us, so I feel like I can experiment a bit get there by trial and error.

I love blueberries too but they don't like heat. I am thinking about aronia. it might cope better with heat. I don't like them so birds can have them all.

the raised bed is a good idea. as we can have some nasty storms I would need a covered nest. winds here would blow away both bird and eggs.

 

[Jeff_Stone]

And so the game stands at: SERVICEBERRY 1, GREEK SUN 0!


Glad it’s alive! Now ignore it aggressively—plants thrive on neglect (and spite). Well, that's what I seem to experience. But hey! That's great news!

For the prickly pear mission, yes wait for that prickly pear to recover and definitely handle with care. spines can grow from unexpected places.... SO:

Optional Gloves. Avoid hands that feel like pincushions.
Plant some distance away from the birds (they will peck spines for fun you see).

Pheasant bonus: If the pears give fruit, you’ll have so called "dinosaur snacks" for the rest of your life.

(P.S. If any plant dies, blame the mods. As we know, it’s always their fault.)