Treats for my chicks that also offers shade!

[Essee]

So a first year chicken owner and gardner. I call this my Mini Mini Homestead with 1/4 acre. I am reading and learning everyday and already planning improvements. I wanted to share an easy to grow fruit producing, high antioxidant and shade cover plant that I had know idea my chickens were gonna GO CRAZY for! Tamarillo trees. They grow about 7 to 8 feet. I thought they were a bush lol. You can trim them to stay shorter. BEES love them! I just made fruit spread with them. My CHICKENS nap under them. They will jump to snatch the fruit out of my hand. I live in TN so not sure if they will make it through the winter, but will plant them again if they don't. I started them from seed in my garage in winter way to early and they are thriving that is how easy they are to grow. Anyway I thought I would share.

 

[GodLovesU]

Wow!You should post this as a article.

 

[TwoCrows]

So a first year chicken owner and gardner. I call this my Mini Mini Homestead with 1/4 acre. I am reading and learning everyday and already planning improvements. I wanted to share an easy to grow fruit producing, high antioxidant and shade cover plant that I had know idea my chickens were gonna GO CRAZY for! Tamarillo trees. They grow about 7 to 8 feet. I thought they were a bush lol. You can trim them to stay shorter. BEES love them! I just made fruit spread with them. My CHICKENS nap under them. They will jump to snatch the fruit out of my hand. I live in TN so not sure if they will make it through the winter, but will plant them again if they don't. I started them from seed in my garage in winter way to early and they are thriving that is how easy they are to grow. Anyway I thought I would share.

Very nice, good for all involved!

 

[ChikaInu]

Wow! Just got seeds for next season!

 

[nuthatched]

Careful, the leaves and green fruit can be toxic.

 

[Essee]

I agree with plants there could be possible toxic effects. TOMATILLO plant leaves are toxic, but DWARF TAMARILLO plants are a suggested plant in a chicken run. When I originally bought the seeds I thought I was buying tomatillo seeds. First time gardener lol, but glad I made the mistake. My chickens have never tried to eat the leaves, they have one motive, the fruit. I did more reading when I realized how much my chickens loved the fruit. I also agree with you any unripened fruit could cause a possible side effect in chickens. I really love this website, I learn so much. Thank you I definitly will however keep an eye on the leaves.