Need some ideas for shade bushes in a non roofed chicken pen. (Updated w/ pics pg 2)

[BallsEleven]

So I've got my coop and run, but also have fenced off a section of my backyard just for the chickens. Since a couple of the ninjas have figured out a way to hope over the 4ft fence, I don't let them out unless I am home since they always seem to make a bee line for my garden.

I want to give them some shade in the pen. I am thinking maybe a blackberry bush and fig tree? It won't bother me if the fruit are picked clean.

Any other thoughts on some bushes? I am in south Louisiana and it gets hot and humid down here. Their coop doesn't offer a ton of relief since it is lacking some ventilation (I will be fixing this in the near future).

 

[21hens-incharge]

Pics would help a ton in getting suggestions.

They really shouldn't have to stay in the coop all day. I am sure we can put our heads together and come up with inexpensive but effective and attractive ways to keep them in their run.

For instant shade a couple wood saw horses with a piece of plywood screwed to the top will be temporary but effective shade.

Here the blackberries are not bushy but long canes without thorns. I don't know how effective that would be for shade.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, photos please.

It's very difficult to grow ANYTHING in a chicken run without giving it full armor protection but there are some fast-growing vines than can be planted outside the run on a trellis to provide some shade.

There are also a lot of shade structures you can make, ranging from a simple pallet on blocks to cattle panel arches with shade cloth. Or you can get them a cheap picnic pavilion.

These are a couple of my shade structures:

And this is from another member's thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/texas-coop-build-pic-heavy.1371038/

 

[HausOfEggwards]

Definitely avoid oak and apricot trees. I would also avoid citrus.
Check out the serviceberry, mulberry, or crab apple trees, but fig sounds great too. There's lots of types of blackberries so I would go for a thornless type and keep in mind they spread a lot over time.

 

[BallsEleven]

Pics would help a ton in getting suggestions.

They really shouldn't have to stay in the coop all day. I am sure we can put our heads together and come up with inexpensive but effective and attractive ways to keep them in their run.

For instant shade a couple wood saw horses with a piece of plywood screwed to the top will be temporary but effective shade.

Here the blackberries are not bushy but long canes without thorns. I don't know how effective that would be for shade.

I can take some pictures when I get home.

Majority of the day they have their coop and attached run to go back and forth. The coop is 4' x 8' and the run is 8' x 8'. To give you an idea though, the entire area is probably 20' x 20' and in the corner of the yard. 2 of the sides being a privacy fence and the other 2 being plastic garden fencing with t-posts.

The only reason I suggested the blackberry bush is because I already have one in the opposite corner of the yard and it's pretty bushy and the love getting back in there to eat all the spiders and bugs.

 

[3KillerBs]

The only reason I suggested the blackberry bush is because I already have one in the opposite corner of the yard and it's pretty bushy and the love getting back in there to eat all the spiders and bugs.

If you can manage to protect it long enough for it to grow up enough to stand up to chickens then it would be great.

 

[BallsEleven]

Definitely avoid oak and apricot trees. I would also avoid citrus.
Check out the serviceberry, mulberry, or crab apple trees, but fig sounds great too. There's lots of types of blackberries so I would go for a thornless type and keep in mind they spread a lot over time.

Yeah, my other blackberry bush is thornless so I was hoping I could just divide it in half and bring it over to the other side. It is over 6 ft tall right now which is amazing because after Hurricane Laura hit back in August, it looked dead so I ran over it with a lawnmower. It has bounced back big time though.

 

[HausOfEggwards]

Yeah, my other blackberry bush is thornless so I was hoping I could just divide it in half and bring it over to the other side. It is over 6 ft tall right now which is amazing because after Hurricane Laura hit back in August, it looked dead so I ran over it with a lawnmower. It has bounced back big time though.

That sounds like a happy plant! Here's a link on transplanting

 

[3KillerBs]

It is over 6 ft tall right now which is amazing because after Hurricane Laura hit back in August, it looked dead so I ran over it with a lawnmower. It has bounced back big time though.

Cane fruits grow new canes from below the ground every year.

Here's an publication on blackberries that includes information about propagating them: https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdf\HS\HS10400.pdf

 

[BallsEleven]

If you can manage to protect it long enough for it to grow up enough to stand up to chickens then it would be great.

I am planning on replacing the plastic barrier with this. Ideally I could take the propagated blackberry and surround it with the leftovers to give it time to grow. I'm sure they could still reach in but the canes should stay intact...maybe haha