Need advice for the best vines and plants for in a chicken run!

[StinkyAcres]

We had lots of grape vines in our yard and the chickens never messed with them except to hang out under them in the shade looking for bugs. They also liked our thornless blackberry for the same reason although I’m sure they ate some berries. I planted a boysenberry and several honey suckle around our coop. A big blackberry bush can provide shade and enrichment but it takes a few years to get to that point. Honeysuckle grows quickly but it doesn’t provide a lot of shade. I planted herbs in a pot outside the coop and I also put things inside the run to block the chickens from pecking at any part of the vining plants while they were young. Hope that helps

Thornless blackberry is a great idea!

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Because they are invasive which means they spread like crazy whether you want them to or not. Keep non-native, invasive plants to pots.

Sounds good

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I have a fully enclosed chicken run and I wanted to plant some vines on the walls all around it. I would plant them on the outside of the run so that the chickens couldn't dig them up. I was thinking grape vines? I know grapes are toxic to chickens, but I think they won't eat them if they are toxic. Would you guys suggest different vines? I'm not set on Grape, it was just the first thing to come to mind. I want decently fast growing ones. The reason I want to plant vines on the walls is because: A-I love how it looks, B-my dog is always harassing the chickens through the fence (with vines, he wouldn't be able to see them), C-It would give them shade in the summer, D-It will attract bugs for the hens to eat, and E-It might help keep predators away(?). I live in Post Falls ID so I think I am in zone 6B (for plants). If I had vines all around the run, would it make it too dark? My run does not have a roof, but it does have a big tree in it. My run wall is made of this https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-welded-wire-60-in-x-100-ft wire and is reinforced with wood posts every 2-3 ft or so.

I also want to plant some bushes inside the run for enrichment, but I think the chickens would just dig them up. Would there be any way I could put some sort of chicken wire over the dirt near the bushes so that they can't uproot them, without inhibiting the growth of the plant? If there is, what bushes would you suggest for inside a chicken run? Incase it matters, my run is about 301.438 sq ft, and I have 9 hens.

Grapes aren’t toxic to chickens, or else @fuzzi would have no chickens. Where did you read this? I’m not being accusatory; it’s just that there is a LOT of BS online regarding chickens.

I wouldn’t try to plant shrubs inside the run, but if you’re determined to, then yes, welded wire or HWC would help.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Grapes aren’t toxic to chickens, or else @fuzzi would have no chickens. Where did you read this? I’m not being accusatory; it’s just that there is a LOT of BS online regarding chickens.

I wouldn’t try to plant shrubs inside the run, but if you’re determined to, then yes, welded wire or HWC would help.

They aren't!? I feel so stupid XD
I honestly can't remember where I heard that. I think it was just one of those things I heard once and just assumed it was true

I am thinking I will just have some plants right outside the run so that they can eat so of the leaves and get some bugs without killing the plant.

Thanks for the fact check!

 

[Ted Brown]

Somewhere in the masses of posts I have seen low wooden frames on the ground covered with HC and plants inside. The plants grow and emerge through the screen which allows the chickens to snack.

 

[Daisy June]

I purchased a metal trellis, placed it outside of one wall of our chicken run, and planted night blooming jasmine. I had read that this plant is not good for chickens, so I always keep it trimmed so that the chickens cannot get to it. It has grown quite fast, has a lovely fragrance, and offers the chickens a little hide-away place.

 

[Papaye]

Hi.

I was thinking grape vines? I know grapes are toxic to chickens, but I think they won't eat them if they are toxic.

My chickens steal my grapes, and they don't die from it...

Grapes are NOT toxic to chickens.
I mean... some people say that chickens that eat grapes might lay less eggs... but personally, I did not observe it with my own chickens, and they really eat A LOT of my grapes...!

If I had vines all around the run, would it make it too dark? My run does not have a roof, but it does have a big tree in it. My run wall is made of this https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-welded-wire-60-in-x-100-ft wire and is reinforced with wood posts every 2-3 ft or so.

Hmmmm...
Pictures of your run would really help here...

I don't think you should put grape vines on your run, because the branches can be really heavy once there are grapes on them... and you don't want them to destroy your wire, right?

What you could want to choose instead, if you want fruits, is : thornless blackberry.
(But then, you would need to move the branches yourself as they grow...!)

I recommend it because, from my personal experience, thornless blackberries can entirely cover a fence, provide a lot of shade (and fruits), and have the advantage to be light enough to not destroy fences - even when the branches are covered with fruits...

B-my dog is always harassing the chickens through the fence (with vines, he wouldn't be able to see them)

With grapes vines, your dog will still harass your chickens through the fence half a year...

I also want to plant some bushes inside the run for enrichment, but I think the chickens would just dig them up. Would there be any way I could put some sort of chicken wire over the dirt near the bushes so that they can't uproot them, without inhibiting the growth of the plant?

Yes.

You can put stepping stones : they will proctect the roots by preventing the chickens to scratch the earth, keep the humidity underneath so it can benefit the plants, and are even decorative...

You can also put heavy, concrete statues - just so you think about it... will make your run pretty to look at!
But if you do, choose statues that are low on the ground, so your chickens can not make them fall by digging at their feet and risk to hurt themselves because of it...!

If there is, what bushes would you suggest for inside a chicken run?

You could plant :
• Lavender,
• Rosemary,
• Sage (Salvia officinalis),
• Fruit bushes,
• etc...

For the record : my chickens particularly love to go in my rosemaries and my sages, so they can hide themselves from kites and diverse predators, be protected from wind, and have shade...
(Advantage is : they are evergreen plants!)

Incase it matters, my run is about 301.438 sq ft, and I have 9 hens.

What about the roof?

Because if it is high enough, you could want to plant Bamboo ("Fargesia" only!!) at the CENTER of your run.

Fargesia are NOT invasive, but you would still do good by not taking any risk, and so, by planting them far enough from your fences!

I would love to plant some mint, lavender, and other flowers and herbs on the outside of the run, but would the vines take over and kills any other plants?

Don't plant Mint : Mint is invasive, so it will eventually take roots everywhere, and choke out your other plants...!!

Plant Thyme instead...

Lavender is good, and will have the advantage to drive away mites and lice thanks to its smell...!

Your chickens won't eat Carnation and Marigold flowers, so I recommend you to plant them if you want colours in your yard.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Somewhere in the masses of post I have seen low wooden frames on the ground covered with HC and plants inside. The plants grow and emerge through the screen which allows the chickens to snack.

^^ Forage frames. ^^ (I can never remember the term!)

 

[NetherLeeFarm]

Look for @alycealexandra on YouTube for instant inspiration. She's in Australia so not our climate but she's been extremely successful with incorporating a garden into her chicken run.

If you want year around coverage, there's not a lot besides evergreens and a few shrubs, and those aren't vines. I'm also in zone 6 and can't grow rosemary as a perennial. (Yes, i know it says hardy to zone 5 but ours barely lasts the winters here and definitely can't survive two winters.) Blackberries do okay in zone 6 but expect losses with thornless/cultivated varieties.

We have lilac shrubs along with raspberry and blueberry and some natives outside our coop/run. They provide good snacks for the chickens (and deer lol) and I like that they're leafless in the winter, so the run gets shade in the hot summer and sun in the cold winter.

BTW protecting chickens from a harassing dog is your job, not a plants job. Train your pup that the chickens are a big no-no & not his/her entertainment. Otherwise, there will likely be more grief to come.

 

[McChooky]

I would love to plant some mint, lavender, and other flowers and herbs on the outside of the run, but would the vines take over and kills any other plants?

I'm not a fan of vines around a chicken coop .You'd never see a snake among the flowers and vines