Shrubs in run?

[shamgar1]

I am in the process of planning my coop & run. The run will have quite a bit of room, but will need to be fenced with an overhead netting. (My wife pointed out hawks in our area). I was wondering about putting some shrubs in the run to add shade and wondered if anyone had thoughts or ideas. The two I was thinking of were a Yaupon Holly and a thornless Rose bush. I have read that birds like to eat the berries on the Holly and rose hips from roses.

 

[emys]

The rose could work if you fence off the roots area (to protect it from digging feet and too much nitrogen in the chicken poop) and then trellis the rose outward to create shade.

 

[CAdreaming]

I am looking at doing the same thing. I had a branch break off of a large bush in a past storm so I tossed it in my run just to see if I liked the look & if the chicks would like it (the branch was the size of a small bush). I really liked the look & my chicks LOVED crawling through, around & under it. My problem is height. I want a bush but I don't want to have to keep it trimmed down to fit in my covered run... I have enough other lanscaping to take care of!! Of your two choices, I'd choose the rose bush since the holly has the potential of reaching 30ft!! I have actually thought about growing small blueberry bushes on the outside so they can have the berries on one side & I can have the other

Would like to find something evergreen also.

 

[mywifewasonherenowiamalso]

i thought about it also but was concerned about raccoons and cats or whatever useing them to their advantage.
and chickens roosting on them at night exposed to owls.