Ideas for bushes around run?

[popsicle]

Yews are toxic, so I would avoid that one--it can kill horses and cattle. I think birds can handle the berries, but I wouldn't risk it. My chickens are dumb enough to peck at any foliage in their run and I'm not sure that they wouldn't be poisoned by the needles.

Boxwood could be very nice--can make a nice dense hedge.

I usually don't think in terms of hedges because the goats we have in summer would eat them--it's much easier to cage a vine as high as the goats can reach and let it take over the top than try to fence off a hedge.

 

[Green Lantern]

I am in No. Mass (zone 6) and have had success w/ grape vines, raspberries, black berries and espaliered apple trees. I make sure to get to the apples before the chickens do though when they hit the ground because I am paranoid about the seeds poisoning my girls. They don't show any interest in the apples when they are still on the trees.

 

[crazyhen]

??? I wonder why the deer refuse to eat lorapetalum? It is a really vigorous and beautiful plant that will grow 8 to 10 ft. tall. and also that wide Wow!!! does it grow. I have it near the coast of NC. Hot and humid summers and winters with an occ. snow. My concern is its proximity to the wire. I would leave an area next to the fence in order to prevent rust or pushing on the wire. A vine pulls down on the wire and frame. If I remember right esp Kiwi needs a very sturdy frame to grow on. I grew a climbing rose on mine and regretted it. I ended up cutting the rose off. Maybe some short scrubs that can be sheered to shape. Or some narrow evergreens. Techney Arbrovitae will grow very tall but are sort of narrow. The chickens actually need some air circulation even in winter. The ammonia from droppings will surprisingly get very strong close the ground if the air is kept from circulating freely. This is from experience too. If the run is not too large you could use reeds or a reed fence with wider spaces in it at intervals to help break the wind some. Hope this helps some. Gloria Jean

 

[Carols Clucks]

Crazy Hen, what kind of rose did you grow and why did you not like it? I was thinking of putting one on my run.

About Kiwi, they are HEAVY vines, our kiwi trunk got to 6" wide and that was only because it grew through a chunk of drain pipe and was limited in size. To support the vine, my dad used wire that we had to cut with a saw or bolt cutter. Wire cutters could not get through it. I would hesitate with a kiwi, locally we were also told they need 50 gallons of water a day to produce, that just seemed like a crazy amount of very expensive water to use.

 

[crazyhen]

My rose was a single climbing white rose. It was beautiful. It grew over the top of the 12 ft. wide run and into the wire, through the wire into the run. What a mess that was. It shaded the run which was clay , here in the mtns of NC. Naturally it would not dry, got a slick moss on it and smelled. It is on a hill but never mind it still got yucky. The chickens are no longer in that run, thank goodness.
Roses will not allow you access to the wire. You may need to repair it. I would leave a small walkway between it and anything I put there. Gloria Jean

 

[Arielle]

We planted a wild type rose and it is very bushy. Girls usually get a nest going under it. Very hard to reach thru the weeping thorny branches to get the eggs and the girls. Not sure this rose would fit your needs. Rose of Sharon is very pretty ( not a real rose, but a really beautiful bush.)

Yews are often regarded as poisonous , at least to horses, though I do wonder at what level of poisonous.

 

[gg706]

Boxwoods would work but wanted to add that boxwoods STINK! They smell like cat pee! I don't care for them because of the "stink factor". I have not had my chickens eat any of my Loropetalums.......but mine are rather picky. Most of the time they are not even interested in my garden scraps!

 

[Folly's place]

I live in southern Michigan, so cooler than your area. Japanese yews are VERY VERY toxic; avoid them!!! Consider viburnums; some are fragrant and have edible berries. American cranberry bushes are great in every season, as are Serviceberries and blueberries. How about a small magnolia? So many choices! Mary

 

[Our Roost]

I have some Michigan concorde grape vines that I am going to plant on the outside of one of the run fences next spring. I envision bees and critters attracted to the grapes once they become ripe. But, I think the chickens are going to love it! The farmers here in Michigan have green growing where their summer corn and soybeans once were. I belive it is winter wheat, but I am not sure. All I know is it germinated awful fast and looks like luscious fresh grass is growing in december! I will definitely investigate to plant in my run area. Currently it has been picked clean by the chickens and I might be lucky enough to get some green growing for them to forage on. I'll keep ya all posted on that one!

 

[babyblue2]

We planted a wild type rose and it is very bushy. Girls usually get a nest going under it. Very hard to reach thru the weeping thorny branches to get the eggs and the girls. Not sure this rose would fit your needs. Rose of Sharon is very pretty ( not a real rose, but a really beautiful bush.)

Yews are often regarded as poisonous , at least to horses, though I do wonder at what level of poisonous.

I have heard of horses taking a quick bite while out trail ridding and dead from just that.