I have a silkie coop with a 12x14 run I am thinking about planting a bush or some kind of cover for them any ideas what would work good? Maybe a fruit plant? instant treats
One thing you can do is to put large pavers or BIG flat rocks (or big chunks of broken-up concrete slab rubble) all around the plant, after you plant it of course, so as to minimize the degree to which chickens can scratch right around it and thereby dig it up by its roots. Which they will otherwise tend to do. It may also not survive well if you have a typical chicken run. But, no harm in trying. Pat
I had a 3'x3' roremary bush and some butterfly gingers in the area I wanted to put run, so I left it in place. I decided to leave this 2 plants in place. So far, my 8 4-week old RIRs have not down too much damage. I don't think they like the taste of either plants. The gingers, they leave completely alone. They are lying down under the rosemary bush & they do like the taste of the flowers, but not the leaves. I don't know how well either of these will fare when the chicks are full grown.
We have a little boxwood bush in our run. The girls love it. And it will provide great shade next year when it's bigger.
They are hard on plants. It would be better to plant just outside of the run away from their reach. A friend who has had chicken for many years has a big over hanging wild crabapple that hangs over a large part of her run. It provides shade in the summer. In fall and early winter the small fruit fall through the wire of the run and her chicken eat them all. But a tree of her size is a 15 year project.
thanks I think next to the run is a better idea I just want somwthing that will provide them somw shade and maybe some berries or something.
I have grape vines that cover my run. You can plant them inside the run if you get plants with a longer stem. The vine grows from the top and is too tall for the chickens to jump up and eat. The LOVE grape leaves and grapes and they eat all within jumping distance. Here is a list compiled by a BYC user (Tucson Tofu) of plants other BYCers have successfully planted in their runs: https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=22588-chicken-proof-plants Here's my grape-covered run:
