Planting veggies in the chicken run...will it work?

[PioneerChicks]

Has anybody planted a garden or a few random plants in their chicken yard? My chickens don't bother most of the weeds, so I am wondering if they would get along with...say...lettace? I would be growing for them anyways, but I wouldn't want them to eat it until it is ready.

 

[CluckerFamily]

I think they would quickly eat the sprouts and no plants would grow. I grow my veggies away from the coop and harvest veggies to give to the chickens.

 

[PioneerChicks]

I think they would quickly eat the sprouts and no plants would grow. I grow my veggies away from the coop and harvest veggies to give to the chickens.

Hmm, do you think it would work if I covered the sprouts for the first couple of weeks then pulled the wire off?

 

[NatJ]

Hmm, do you think it would work if I covered the sprouts for the first couple of weeks then pulled the wire off?

Maybe,

They may just have a feast when you pull the wire off.
It will depend on how tasty the new plants are, and how tasty everything else is.

 

[Compost King]

I use chickens to weed the pots of my evergreen trees, They do not eat evergreen trees. When I had so many chickens they ran out of weeds and then plants in general around the property they started eating evergreen trees. Even if you plant stuff they normally do not eat or are poisonous to them they will eat it just because its in their nature to peck every plant they can reach. And when they run out of things they like or are healthy to them they start pecking plants they do not like.

 

[PioneerChicks]

Maybe,

They may just have a feast when you pull the wire off.
It will depend on how tasty the new plants are, and how tasty everything else is.

Well, I guess they would eat the lettuce eventually. It will work out. Thank you!

I use chickens to weed the pots of my evergreen trees, They do not eat evergreen trees. When I had so many chickens they ran out of weeds and then plants in general around the property they started eating evergreen trees. Even if you plant stuff they normally do not eat or are poisonous to them they will eat it just because its in their nature to peck every plant they can reach. And when they run out of things they like or are healthy to them they start pecking plants they do not like.

If only you could see my grapevines...

Once I had my chickens get out and they all started eating the Virginia Creeper berries. The next morning five were dead. I absolutely agree, it is in their nature!

 

[CluckerFamily]

For lettuce, you could always plant them in pots. Then you can bring a pot of lettuce over for the flock when you would like. Maybe spinach too.

 

[PioneerChicks]

For lettuce, you could always plant them in pots. Then you can bring a pot of lettuce over for the flock when you would like. Maybe spinach too.

Good point. I will probably do that during the winter. Thank you!

 

[Ruby Rogue]

For lettuce, you could always plant them in pots. Then you can bring a pot of lettuce over for the flock when you would like. Maybe spinach too.

This is a good idea. You could also try planting around the perimeter of the run.

 

[CluckerFamily]

This is a good idea. You could also try planting around the perimeter of the run.

I have plans for next spring to plant herbs around the boarder of the run, my flock free ranges so they would be able to eat certain herbs when needed. I have to look into which herbs to plant.