Has anyone planted hops outside the run for shade?

[Khtrujillo]

I read in a magazine that it grows up to 25 ft per year and comes back every year. I'm looking for easy grow hardy plants that will come back every year to plant outside our run for shade. I prefer to avoid grapes or any other of that type of fruit since it would be eaten up by wild birds who will then poop color all over our place. So I thought maybe the hops...

Hi! I'm currently growing hops for shade for my chickens. This is the 1st summer I've tried this and so far, it's going well. I made an arch out of pvc pipe and chicken wire. I had to make sure the chickens couldn't eat the sprouts (that was the hardest part). From what I've read, hops are non toxic to chickens. The arch extends over their 6 for tall chicken run. I believe the arch is about 8' high. Once the hops reaches a certain point in the arch I'm going to train them to grow back over covering the open spaces. I've noticed the hops attracts a lot of ladybugs too. I ordered the rhizomes online in early spring and received them by mail. I have Mt. Hood and Cascade. It was really easy and I'm very happy I tried this. Now, I need to learn how to brew beer.

 

[Khtrujillo]

Mt. Hood & Cascade hops for extra shade for the fluffy girls

 

[Krugerrand]

Old thread ... but if anybody lands on it, you've added some great info and pictures!