Pine trees and chicken run

[ctyfrmr]

I am new to raising chickens, although I grew up on a farm with them when I was young, it has been along time. I am building a new coop and run and there are some pine trees where I want to put the run. I was wondering if the pine needles where a concern? Would they eat them? Would they get stuck in there crop? ctyfrmr

 

[teach1rusl]

Who can say what a chicken will eat??? If you don't want them to eat something, they will...lol. So maybe you should tell them you WANT them to eat the needles...use a little reverse psych. Mine range under some cedar trees and don't seem interested in the trees at all. I'd stuck some pine branches out in my run last fall and they pecked at the pine cones a little, but didn't mess with the needles. I think they would be fine, and would be good cover and shade.