Questions on Non-Toxic flowers to plant in window boxes in my coop

[kathiej4455]

I would like to put up some window boxes in my coop area, and would just like to know what sort of flowers/flowering plants will not hurt my birds. They wouldn't be at a level where they could actually eat them, but if some of the leaves or flowers come off, I would want to make sure it wouldn't hurt them.

Also, I would like to plant some flowering vines along the one coop wall/fencing - was looking at some Confederate Jasmine, as it grows fast and is quite fragrant. Any thoughts on this?

 

[lazy gardener]

Marigold, calendula, nasturtium, pansies. If it's green and growing, they'll go to great lengths to fly up to sample the posies.

 

[justplainbatty]

I would like to put up some window boxes in my coop area, and would just like to know what sort of flowers/flowering plants will not hurt my birds. They wouldn't be at a level where they could actually eat them, but if some of the leaves or flowers come off, I would want to make sure it wouldn't hurt them.

Also, I would like to plant some flowering vines along the one coop wall/fencing - was looking at some Confederate Jasmine, as it grows fast and is quite fragrant. Any thoughts on this?

You really don't have to worry much about it. You could avoid plants in the nightshade family, but if you think about it, the chickens will go into the garden and eat tomatoes but not the leaves. For the most part they know what they can and cannot eat.

 

[lazy gardener]

My gals were in the garden sampling tomato leaves. they have 4 acres to eat from, and just had to try those tomato leaves. They're all none the worse for wear. yes, they know what they can eat... and eat even the stuff that the books say they shouldn't eat. Even so, I'd try to plant chicken friendly stuff around their coop and run... but won't worry (too much) about what finds it's way into their crops!

 

[donrae]

I'm a horrible chicken keeper. I throw whole, huge tomato plants in the run for the birds when I clean out the garden at end of season. They strip the leaves....and are perfectly healthy.

Agree on lazy gardeners picks for flowers.

 

[ShockValue]

Soon as we quit freezing my plan is to plant nasturtium in boxes under the windows there. Hoping they trail down and hide a bit of the underside of the coop - But I'm a notoriously bad gardener

 

[lazy gardener]

SV, nice coop, nice plan, but I bet those nasturtiums won't grow any longer than a chicken can jump high. But, then again, my chooks never touched my nasturtiums until it was time to turn them loose in the veggie garden. Then they shredded them, just for the fun of it.