How do I fill a great big dirt square in my run?

[TwinChickens]

Hiya, Aussie chicken keeper here, I was looking for advice on filling in a big ugly dirt patch in my run with some lovely plants. My run has three sections, they all have dirt and sand substrate, but only one section has plants. I would like to fill another of the sections with some more plants to give my chickens both vertical space and hopefully some form of fruit to supplement their diet. I have a native garden so I want native Australian plants if possible, any recommendations for plants that are safe around chickens? We have some lilly-pillies in already which we had hoped would grow and produce berries, however my girls have destroyed their leaves, despite our attempts to protect them with a few logs piled around them. Any advice on how to stop small plants from being dug up and eaten before they can grow out of the chickens reach? Thanks

PS also any tips on building roosts? We have installed a "swing" using some old branches and chains but only one of our girls uses it, is the movement a problem? Could it be too high? Any advice is appreciated

 

[SteveE]

Here's some ideas from BYC images.... See also google search term [chicken grazing] no quotes https://www.backyardchickens.com/threadloom/search?query=grazing&tab=619

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any advice on how to stop small plants from being dug up and eaten before they can grow out of the chickens reach? Thanks

PS also any tips on building roosts? We have installed a "swing" using some old branches and chains but only one of our girls uses it, is the movement a problem? Could it be too high? Any advice is appreciated

If you want to go real simple, you can put in your plants, then surround them with chicken wire to give them a fighting chance of growing up. Some pavers over the roots will help prevent the chickens from tearing them up too badly. IF you can get the plants to where they're pretty well established, they might survive in that environment, but chickens tend to be very hard to vegetation, so good luck with that.

A lot of chickens don't really like swings, so stationary roosts would be better. Doesn't have to be anything fancy, just need some sort of secure support to hold up the bars.

 

[Neggative]

for roosts a 2x4 on its side is absolutely ideal!

 

[Alaskan]

You can also plant the plants OUTSIDE of the run, so that they can grow into the run. That way they are protected from the chickens, but whatever plant parts grow into the run the chickens can eat.

Anything edible by chickens...will be completely killed by the chickens, unless protected.

 

[aart]

Post some pics of your run?
Most plants will be destroyed by the chickens eating and or scratching up the plants.
Might try some grazing frames:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/grazing-frames.73645/