Plants for Run

[cabincrazyone]

Just my two cents on raspberries. They're yummy as can be, but the canes have thorns, they spread like wildfire, and the dead canes need to be removed every fall or you'll have an impenetrable jungle. This is provided they're protected from the chickens, as stated they won't survive constant pecking.

 

[cabincrazyone]

Quote:
There's another thread about grass in the run. The only way it can survive is if you build a frame to protect a small patch. Say about 20 x 30 inches or whatever fits a spot in your run, out of 1 x 4 inch boards. Cover it with hardware cloth so they can only pick at the grass growing up and out of the screen.

 

[spartacus_63]

Just a couple thoughts on the run. I have raspberries in my run and they are not invasive. Yes they will spread, but they are easily contained. As for the thorns, those are handy if you have rabbits in your area. It helps to keep the bunnies from stripping the young canes. You do need to prune the old canes in the fall or spring, but with a decent pair of gloves it is pretty easy. Once you get brambles started, they are easy to maintain and the birds LOVE them. The berries are good and the shade and protection are priceless.

I have an old wood ladder on the ground in my run and have noticed that the grass grew well in between the rungs. This was a total accident. I acquired the ladder and intended to cut it up and make a place for the bids to perch in the sade, or sun depending on the time of year. It is still on my list, but I may have to investigate a little further on how this will work in protecting grass in the run.

 

[Sinfonian]

In my research I found that free-ranging my eventual birds is not really an option as I don't want my garden areas destroyed. I've got a blueberry/strawberry patch that is not open for negotiation with the girls, not to mention roses and tomato plants as well as tons of perennial bushes and plants. So, they'll be arked and kept on the grass.

 

[CoyoteMagic]

The birds will eat everything you put in the run except for maybe evergreen trees.

Wild Blackberries and Raspberries are good as a deterrent to thieves. Honest! Just let them grow under your windows as thick and high as they will grown. Only a fool will attempt to get past them!

 

[Country Heart]

Last year I planted rasberry, blueberry and blackberry. I surrounded each plant with wire caging - I figure once the plants get big enough, hopefully this year, the girls can eat everything growing outside the protective wire and I can harvest everything inside (the berries they can't reach). It also works to protect the base and core of the plant, so hopefully we can all enjoy them for a long, long time.

My girls free-range, so I need to protect any edible plants in the yard - at least until they get established. Before I figured this out they actually ate every leaf off the rasberry plant, all they left was a small little twig. It looked like a "Charlie Brown" plant - but rasberries must be hardy, because once I added the wire, leaves popped out again and it began to thrive. Can't wait to harvest berries this year. Yum!

 

[WoodlandWoman]

We have lots of room. We don't fuss with our raspberries. My husband just mows paths around and through them. The mowing keeps the patch from spreading if we don't want it to spread. We don't prune. Once in awhile he may mow a section down and let it grow back. It's just a different style of gardening for large areas, rather than a small city garden.

Mash them up, add sugar, strain out the seeds and you have a killer pancake syrup, with all the nutrition and flavor of fresh, uncooked berries. It's also great on vanilla ice cream.

 

[CraigleMahhn]

Mmm woodland and woman that sounds so good X)

 

[WoodlandWoman]

It is!

 

[Chicken Casanova]

Quote:
There's another thread about grass in the run. The only way it can survive is if you build a frame to protect a small patch. Say about 20 x 30 inches or whatever fits a spot in your run, out of 1 x 4 inch boards. Cover it with hardware cloth so they can only pick at the grass growing up and out of the screen.

Cool thank alot i will try that out