Shade loving plants for chicken run

[Folly's place]

If your run is enclosed in hardware cloth, shrubs planted outside won't grow through it, so no goodies for them to eat. those plants are much more likely to survive though, providing the shade and attractive looks that matter too. And they can grow taller than the roof of your run, arching over it for more shade.
Mary

 

[PhillyDelcoChix]

Hmmm. Problem is, if the chickens eat the plants, pretty soon they won't have any shade, I'm thinking.

A wild grape "volunteered" itself in our run. It provides a nice amount of shade. Also, we planted a batch of lilies in the middle of the run. Every spring they pop up and provide a cool little jungle in the middle of their run. They love to huddle in the midst of it and scratch for bugs, but they don't nibble the leaves at all, ever. (They're toxic, but the birds instictively seem to know that.)

Actually there are about 80% shade most of the year. They’re under large pine trees and only get afternoon sun. So that’s not so much an issue.
I do love the idea of a jungle in their run! Sounds like happy chickens!

 

[PhillyDelcoChix]

Maybe mobile planted trays....
Grazing frames come to mind but full shade is hard for plants to grow in.

How big is the run?
Any areas that get partial shade?

Pics could really help.

Our run is approx 16’x18’ x 8’.
It’s almost all shade all day except in late afternoon

 

[Folly's place]

Now I'm confused; is it sunny most of the day, or 80% shade?
Mary

 

[PhillyDelcoChix]

Now I'm confused; is it sunny most of the day, or 80% shade?
Mary

Shade. Shade most of the day. Only sunny in the late afternoon. That’s what I’m looking for shade loving plants that can grow in that area.

 

[PhillyDelcoChix]

Shade. Shade most of the day. Only sunny in the late afternoon. That’s what I’m looking for shade loving plants that can grow in that area.

I see that mistake above. Sorry about that. I am confusing myself.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It is called a percithia

Forsythia, actually. One of the first things to bloom in the spring, I love these!

 

[CluckerFamily]

Elderberry plants spread by root and if you trim it, the roots become stronger. If you do plant it, make sure it is in an area that you don't want the roots to invade, even a long distance away; it is similar to how trumpet vine spreads.
Some plants that do well in the shade and my chickens don't eat: astilbe, lady slippers, bleeding hearts, coral bells, asters and some hostas. For some reason they will only eat the hostas that have the white trim around each leaf, all the other hostas (and I have almost 50 different kinds) they won't even touch but they will destroy the ones with the white trim.

 

[Anime2lover]

Forsythia, actually. One of the first things to bloom in the spring, I love these!

Yes, those ones. Their leaves stay around all year, except winter and their prolific growers to.

 

[feliciadawn]

Hi -- I live in Delco -- Havertown area. If you contact me in early spring (late March early April) I can give you some plants -- various ferns and native shade plants mostly -- like Jack in the pulpit, blood root, mayapples. My rule is that you come with your own pots and soil, and leave with plants in your own soil. I don't give away my pots and compost. I have very high quality plants -- ran a charity plant sale last year and raised a few thousand dollars just from my tiny garden. I always have to give away extras or things get too crowded. With covid, I don't get the same level of out-of-town friends visiting -- many used to visit with the intention of bringing home a trunkload of plants.