Plants/ivy for the chicken run?

[PiGE0N]

So my chicken run is build of a chain-link fence and I thought some sort of plant like ivy would look lovely growing all over it and also provide more shade for the birds.
Does anyone have something like that going on, what kind of plant/ivy is it?
Basically what plants are bird-safe to grow around the chicken coop/run? I was thinking of using creeping fig or English ivy (I've read that this is a toxic plant to birds but my chickens have eaten this off our potted plants before and were fine?), any other suggestions?

 

[SunHwaKwon]

I have tried that but I can't get it to grow. I don't know if the chickens are scratching it all up or if it is just too hot or dry. I thought morning glory and/or ivy would be a nice covering.


ETA what I planted around mine was Sweet Pea and wildflower mix. Apparently they were eating all the seeds though because my burn pile now has beautiful wildflowers growing in it. Last year they "planted" tomatoes there for me lol

 

[PiGE0N]

I've read Morning Glory are also toxic to birds but that brings another question, are the list of toxic plants only toxic to common pet birds such as parrots, parakeets, canaries, etc.? Are chickens or wild birds affected if they were to eat most of those?

I'm thinking of using some climbing roses too

 

[rosemarythyme]

You can try peas, they trellis well and can grow fairly tall. Not really "pretty" in the traditional sense and you'll need to keep replanting, but mine have withstood having the chickens rip off all the leaves within reach and still produce plenty of peas and pea leaves for me to eat. Placement is key, the main stem has to be far away enough from the chain link that the chickens can't destroy it as it grows.

 

[lazy gardener]

I would not plant any toxic plants on or around the run, especially if your run is void of good healthy vegetation inside for them to eat. Use edible plants: cucumbers, peas, climbing nasturtiums, Caucasian mountain spinach, sweet potato vines. Realize that what ever you plant there is going to be torn to shreds by your flock! How bout sunflowers, corn, sorghum????

 

[PiGE0N]

Climbing nasturtiums look beautiful! I'll try those if I can find any for sale or order seeds. Yeah I plan to wire off a corner where i wanna start them off, thank you for your suggestions!

 

[toomuch]

In my back yard i have Morning glory and my chickens don't touch it. I also tired to plant in my chicken coop because i also have a chain linked fence but they kept on braking the plant.