Tree/Shrub for chickens in yard

[Penpal]

The stand by shrub where I live is the lilac. I might start with that. There are now hazelnut shrubs which actually grow the nuts.

High bush cranberries make very tart berries that you can make jelly with. I have two by the road in front of my house to cut down on dust in the summer.

 

[Jaypown]

The stand by shrub where I live is the lilac. I might start with that. There are now hazelnut shrubs which actually grow the nuts.

High bush cranberries make very tart berries that you can make jelly with. I have two by the road in front of my house to cut down on dust in the summer.

I like the idea of Lilac!

 

[Jaypown]

American paw paw tree. Bugs don't bother the tree and they have nice big leaves for shade but they don't get too tall or wide. Perfect smaller tree, very hardy. I'm not fond of the fruit myself but some people really like it. I've had them around where my chickens are with absolutely no issues. Or you could get a dogwood or a rose of sharon tree. They both get beautiful flowers and are super hardy.

I like the idea of the bigger leaves for shade. Perk would be the fruit for the chickens to treat themselves on too.

I do have a rose of sharon in the opposite corner of my yard so I could definitely get some seeds from it this fall and plant more.

 

[Folly's place]

I like the suggestions here, especially native shrubs and small trees, with fruit, fall color, all that. Viburnums, serviceberry, so many good choices!
We put small rocks (2" to 4" diameter) around the shrubs and trees next to our coop, kept the chickens from digging them up for years. Now those stones are covered in mulch and smaller plants, and everything survived. Much better than laying chicken wire there!
Redbuds. We have a river birch on the south side of our coop, great for summer shade, and the bark is beautiful. American cranberrybush. Viburnums with fragrant flowers, and fruit for the birds; Burkwoodii, Juddii, and maybe Carlesi. (spelling?)
Catmint, Rasberries or blackberries, although you will have to fight the chickens for them!
Mary

 

[DLA]

I like the suggestions here, especially native shrubs and small trees, with fruit, fall color, all that. Viburnums, serviceberry, so many good choices!
We put small rocks (2" to 4" diameter) around the shrubs and trees next to our coop, kept the chickens from digging them up for years. Now those stones are covered in mulch and smaller plants, and everything survived. Much better than laying chicken wire there!
Redbuds. We have a river birch on the south side of our coop, great for summer shade, and the bark is beautiful. American cranberrybush. Viburnums with fragrant flowers, and fruit for the birds; Burkwoodii, Juddii, and maybe Carlesi. (spelling?)
Catmint, Rasberries or blackberries, although you will have to fight the chickens for them!
Mary

Speaking of berries - I don't know why I didn't think of it before - but a blueberry bush or two, they're easy to prune and if you put covering over them right before the berries ripen, then you might actually get berries before the wild birds, chipmunks and squirrels eat them all. I have 5 bushes along the side of my house and they do very well. It's one of my chickens favorite places to hang out even when there arern't any berries.

 

[Folly's place]

Blueberries require acid soil, not what we have near our coop. Trying to modify soil pH is too much trouble, IMO!!!
Mary