Perennials in the Run

Hey there!

I am anxiously awaiting spring time so I can start rehabbing my coop and run. (We moved last year and I will be getting new chickens this year)

I learned alot from having birds before of what NOT to do... but I have some ideas running through my head...

I cannot free range- too many predators. So the girls will have a fairly large run. I am going to plant with a mixture of annual and perennial grass seed before I get chicks, so "hopefully" it will be nice and thick before they turn into hens and destroy it.

I also had an idea- and wanted to know if anyone else has done something similar. I think you have all seen the "fodder boxes" - similar to raised beds, with a mesh top..

I was thinking about doing this maybe with some perennials... making some sort of dome, or box around the plants, allow the plant to grow big and strong, but also enough to allow the birds to "get a bite" but not destroy the whole plant. Any ideas?