shade landscaping

[vistaviewblue]

Hi. We are new to owning hens and have had them for a few weeks. We actually started by renting 2 hens + and a coop to see if we liked having chickens but have already built them a new coop and fenced off a section of our yard, so i’m pretty sure we are committed.

I’m trying to spruce up their contained area, but its all shade. (we have a hard time keeping grass because anyway, so i’m looking for some planting suggestions to help with mud control AND landscape too.

They stay in their enclosed run when we are at work, but I want to landscape the bigger area we set aside from them.

i have hostas, a lot of hostas to plant - but any other suggestions?

right now, they have pine pellets back there which they seem to like and will be a nice layer of topsoil eventually, but would like more green!

we are in Illinois!

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! Chickens love hostas, so unless they are very well fenced, you will have hosta roots only, in a short time.
Where are you? Climate matters!
Pine shavings and wood chips work great as a base. Leave out heavy amounts of black walnut or eastern cedar though.
I have shrubs out there in a shaded area; look for non-toxic hardy (native if possible) shrubs for their area. Something with yummy berries would be a bonus!
Viburnums are good. If you add your location/ climate, and post on your state's thread, there will be more ideas. Also, your Master Gardeners, or Extension office.
Chickens love to scratch through mulch! I resorted to 2" to 4" stones around the shrubs against the coop to protect them!
Mary

 

[Folly's place]

I just looked at your coop, and it needs upgrading for security!
No openings larger than 1/2" diameter anywhere; hardware cloth, well secured, over all openings.
Child proof latches or locks, because raccoons can open almost anything.
Everything sturdy!
Mary

 

[vistaviewblue]

Welcome! Chickens love hostas, so unless they are very well fenced, you will have hosta roots only, in a short time.
Where are you? Climate matters!
Pine shavings and wood chips work great as a base. Leave out heavy amounts of black walnut or eastern cedar though.
I have shrubs out there in a shaded area; look for non-toxic hardy (native if possible) shrubs for their area. Something with yummy berries would be a bonus!
Viburnums are good. If you add your location/ climate, and post on your state's thread, there will be more ideas. Also, your Master Gardeners, or Extension office.
Chickens love to scratch through mulch! I resorted to 2" to 4" stones around the shrubs against the coop to protect them!
Mary

tha

 

[vistaviewblue]

thanks for the feedback. I will reach out to our local Master Gardeners/Extension office - greag suggestion.

 

[vistaviewblue]

I just looked at your coop, and it needs upgrading for security!
No openings larger than 1/2" diameter anywhere; hardware cloth, well secured, over all openings.
Child proof latches or locks, because raccoons can open almost anything.
Everything sturdy!
Mary

 

[vistaviewblue]

I just looked at your coop, and it needs upgrading for security!
No openings larger than 1/2" diameter anywhere; hardware cloth, well secured, over all openings.
Child proof latches or locks, because raccoons can open almost anything.
Everything sturdy!
Mary

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

My chickens love to eat the hostas that I plant so you may want to protect them when they start to come up.

 

[vistaviewblue]

Thanks for your feedback. Can you tell me what, specifically, you’d suggest changing? We do have predator proof locks (not visible since they go on the latches at night). The coop is reinforced with a double barrier of chicken wire and hardware cloth (hardware cloth is on the inside). Is your concern the space between the roof line? If it is - cool. We just need to get the trim pieces up. Their rent a coop turned out to be a $100 coop that pretty much disolved in the rain - in about a week...so we had to move fast and get them something!

 

[vistaviewblue]

My chickens love to eat the hostas that I plant so you may want to protect them when they start to come up.