Plants to plant around coop/run?

[Schicks15]

Hello. I'm located in Virginia and was wondering what are some good plants/flowers to plant around my coop/coop run area? They will obviously have to be edible and ok for the girls. Any ideas? Thanks!

 

[N F C]

There are some articles in the Learning Center that talk about plants that are safe to have around your chickens. Take a look at these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-proof-garden
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-proof-plants
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/plants-chickens-dont-eat

Of course, not everything grows in every area but maybe these will give you some place to start.

Hope that helps!

 

[Schicks15]

There are some articles in the Learning Center that talk about plants that are safe to have around your chickens. Take a look at these:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-proof-garden
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/chicken-proof-plants
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/plants-chickens-dont-eat

Of course, not everything grows in every area but maybe these will give you some place to start.

Hope that helps!

Thank you!

 

[N F C]

You're very welcome! It would be interesting to know what you end up planting (and pictures are always fun). Happy gardening!

 

[TLove99]

I'm in central VA. I put some mint around my coop. The chickens don't care for it so they leave it alone, and I read that flies don't like the smell of mint so I hoping it will keep the fly population down. Something to know about mint though, you don't really "grow" it as much as you just try to control it. It's like a weed, but you can eat it! It goes great in my tea.

 

[Schicks15]

Oh ok I will have to try some mint. Once we finish our new coop and landscape it I'll post final picture and what I decided to plant

Thanks!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

So far the things in my yard that have survived the chickens include multiple types of lavender, butterfly bush, Mexican Sage, and blueberry bushes (although they ate all the blueberries, LOL!). The sticky monkeyflower seemed to be doing ok too, but the last heat wave seems to have fried it. They destroyed the marigolds and all the ornamental grasses.

 

[N F C]

So far the things in my yard that have survived the chickens include multiple types of lavender, butterfly bush, Mexican Sage, and blueberry bushes (although they ate all the blueberries, LOL!). The sticky monkeyflower seemed to be doing ok too, but the last heat wave seems to have fried it. They destroyed the marigolds and all the ornamental grasses.

Different chickens must have different tastes. Until we blocked off the blueberry bushes, our girls loved digging up the roots. And marigolds, they won't touch with a ten foot pole (although I've heard other people say their birds love to eat them).

Chickens...go figure!

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Quote:
They sure do! Mine ate ALL the mint I put out. I'm expanding their secure run next month and will try putting some of their favorite plants inside for them (a chicken wire skirt and a couple of pavers do a good job protecting the roots long enough for the plants to get established).

 

[jimbob86]

Not the best for immediate gratification, but my suggestion is a mulberry tree: Free treats all summer, and will provide shade. It'll just take a few years.....