Tree/Shrub for chickens in yard

[Altairsky]

Yes, edible for humans or edible for birds, or edible for whatever creature is edible for chickens. It's all good.

 

[jbird7262]

I had this same problem recently and looked for native bushes and shrubs and ended up with a serviceberry, oakleaf hydrangeas and an elderberry. So far the chickens haven’t killed them and they used them for cover between their coop and their little forest grotto which is mostly small shrubs and bushes I have to stoop to get under

Elderberries can get decent height and provide some shade. They also love the berries. Most pines are slow growing. Peach tree is nice but not a lot of shade, protection, they also get most of my fallen fruit.

 

[MROO]

I highly recommend the American Beautyberry.

• It doesn't get super huge,
• has a beautiful draping habit when allowed to grow naturally (great shady hiding spaces,)
• gets vivid purple berries that chickens love (and dry nicely for wreaths)
• naturally repels ticks and mosquitos,
• and, best of all, Callicarpa Americana (not the imported cultivars) is native to your area, so it should thrive on neglect once it's established!

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/r..., FL,coastal plains; swamp edges, bottomlands

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I highly recommend the American Beautyberry.

• It doesn't get super huge,
• has a beautiful draping habit when allowed to grow naturally (great shady hiding spaces,)
• gets vivid purple berries that chickens love (and dry nicely for wreaths)
• naturally repels ticks and mosquitos,
• and, best of all, Callicarpa Americana (not the imported cultivars) is native to your area, so it should thrive on neglect once it's established!

https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=caam2#:~:text=USA: AL , AR , FL,coastal plains; swamp edges, bottomlands

I love these things, but do be aware that if you allow your chickens up on decks, etc., expect to be rewarded with brilliant purple stains!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

expect to be rewarded with brilliant purple stains!

Oh my gosh yes! Mine have been eating wild berries and I was ready with the Corid their poop was so pink. But they are nowhere near my house so that didn’t cross my mind. Just gave me a little start until I realized they had denuded the Autumn Olive trees, of which there are plenty. Invasive things those but kind of tasty when they’re ripe.

 

[MROO]

I love these things, but do be aware that if you allow your chickens up on decks, etc., expect to be rewarded with brilliant purple stains!

Spoilsport!