What can I plant in the pen?

[TK Poultry]

I have 3 going one 4 pens and I want to plant some kind of vegetation in there but I dont want to plant it and they kill it. I have Bantam Ameraucanas, Bantam Cochins, and Swedish Ducks. I want plants that I can plant and they wont kill

What would that be?

 

[Jody]

Quote:
Unfortunately, nothing. If there's any plant they won't peck and destroy, their poops certainly will kill.

 

[La_TomboyGirl]

In my experience, they will kill anything growing in their pen. Grass, shrubs, etc. unless it's a huge pen, but even then it will be rather pecked over if it's in a place where they are kept in for long periods of time. Sorry. I wish it wasn't so, but I've even heard of folks getting a chicken tractor, letting the birds tear up the vegetation down to pure dirt after a few days, then moving it onto another area as a way to clear the ground for garden plots! Maybe you could do a pretty, plant-lined path to your coop area? Any ideas anyone?

 

[leenie]

I got this idea off another BRYC'er who suggested building such a "protected garden".

Realized I had these wire drawers around and they are perfect! I have red winter hard wheat growing in most of the drawers along with chives and mint and lemon balm in others.
The chickens can only get to what is close to the top of the wire so it's no different than mowing the lawn. Continual growth and entertainment with no maintainance here.

 

[Laurie's Silkies]

The grass grows so well that I have to mow once a week in my chicken yard. Can I plant nasturtiums around the fence so they will climb it? they are not toxic to chickens are they?

 

[rainnotebook]

Quote:
This is a GREAT idea!! I will probably do that for my coop when we enlarge it. Thanks!!

 

[SteveH]

The protected plots are a great idea !

Laurie's Silkies :

The grass grows so well that I have to mow once a week in my chicken yard. Can I plant nasturtiums around the fence so they will climb it? they are not toxic to chickens are they?

You must be blessed with a big yard . Nasturtiums are completely edible .​

 

[luckyramu]

k.
thanks Leenie for the great idea. I threw some birdseed in the pen and water it, as a kind of random act to see what grows.
Your protected garden photos are a wonderful idea.

 

[Happy Chooks]

You cannot grow anything unless it's protected. I threw rye seed out right before a light rain. Did any rye grass grow? Nope, the chickens ate all the seeds. I've also had to put little fences around my rose bushes so they won't eat those. Last year, they didn't touch the roses, this year they won't let the poor things grow.

 

[leenie]

new2chooks you are right. Notice the natural border around all my little cages. That is space were the chickens could grab the seed clean. But what's left to grow grows well and strong. No yanking those seedlings out because by the time the wheat hits the top of the wire it's happily planted itself deep.