Question about plants around the coop.

[Nostalchic]

I second the scarlet runner bean idea. You will have to protect them early on, but they can be planted from seed, germinate quickly, will grow up a fence, have beautiful red flowers, and produce a really interesting green bean that is a little fuzzy and flat, but with really delicious old fashioned bean flavor. They are annuals, obviously, and will need to be replanted each year. Grapes might also work well and will become woody, sturdy plants, producing LOTS of THE most popular treat in the world, at least in my little chicken family. I don't know how they do there - we don't have to worry nearly as much about invasive species here - you don't want something around? - don't water it, problem solved. Well, with a few unpleasant exceptions.

Edited to say sunflowers also a great idea.

 

[Wifezilla]

LOL

You got that right.

I have a grape vine that covers a big part of my duck run. It didn't start out as part of the duck run, but the stupid hawks made me rethink my use of that space

 

[possumqueen]

Quote:

 

[CoyoteMagic]

I've got Wild blackberries growing at the back of the new chicken "compound" I'm building. Figured it would help keep predators from working too hard at getting in that side of the run too. The stuff is Vicious!! I've actually got it growing at the side of the house at a window to keep would be burglers from trying to get in. It will eat you alive!!

Morning glories have been good covering up my fences. Only problem is if you decide you don't want them anymore, you will be pulling them out for years. I swear the seeds live for a million years.

I've tried wysteria but they keep eating it!!

 

[4CiTyCHicHENs]

Quote:
OOO!!!! Pretty & Good for them! Could you alternate planting between the left & right sided of the run so they could be planted continously?

 

[Wifezilla]

You know you can plant those black oil sunflower seeds that chickens love so much.

 

[kichohana]

I am going to plant hyacinth bean vines over my coop. They have lovely large green leaves with purple undersides, purpleish stems and incredible purple flowers that turn into gorgeous 3-4" seed pods. The vines grow 10 to 12 feet very rapidly but are not invasive as they are an annual vine. I just finished harvesting last year's seeds from the pods to plant next summer around my coop to help screen it from the neighbor's yard.

 

[Crazyland]

I would not get blackberry either.

Like said before they are vicious! They will take over anything and sprout up everywhere. They are extremely hard to get rid of once you decide you want them gone.
While the berries are yummy the plant itself is a pest!

 

[kcsunshine]

Hummmmmmm. Why is it that Morning Glory vines will grow wild, pop up everywhere, but if you buy the seeds, you can't get them to grow? Hummmmmmmm?

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Im going with Giant Sunflowers and pole beans