What can I plant to vine up my run?

[RynBrax]

Just finished our run today and my wife would like to plant some sort of vining or running plant to grow up the run. It would provide some shade and protection, along with some treats. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

 

[steelchair]

I am also intrested in this. I was going to plant sunflowers on the south face of my run this year, but a perenial would be better.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

Just finished our run today and my wife would like to plant some sort of vining or running plant to grow up the run. It would provide some shade and protection, along with some treats. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks

Me three! I think it would make the run look pretty and less 'cage' like.

 

[3KillerBs]

I think you would have to plant it on a trellis just outside the run so that the chickens wouldn't kill it.

Grapes are vigorous growers and both the fruit and the leaves are edible.

 

[nikki1]

You could try something like scarlet runner beans. Since they're edible, you wouldn't have to worry about the chickens eating them, and the red flowers are pretty. They should grow happily all summer long.

I'm also thinking since they're an annual, if you decided vines weren't for you, they'd die at the first frost.

--Nikki

 

[Ga Boy]

A vine would work great lol. Agree with 3KillerBs all depends where you are. confederate Jasmine looks great stays green all year. White flowers in the spring

 

[nellynelly]

passion fruit.

 

[MoonShadows]

From the book: Free Range Chicken Gardens

Vines for chicken gardens

AKEBIA (Akebia quinata). This semievergreen vine produces beautiful flowers followed by edible fruit. It needs a pollinator. Zones 4-9.

CHAYOTE (Sechium edule). Also known as choko, chowchow, or pear squash, this fru it-bearing vine grows in warmer climates. Zones 9-11.

KIWI (Actinidia species). There are many woody varieties of this vine that bears tasty fruit, including the arguta hardy species that can be eaten whole. Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

GRAPE C Vitis species). A popular fruiting vine, grape comes in many varieties, table grapes to wine grapes . Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

MAGNOLIA VINE (Schisandra sp ecies). This vine does wel l in shady, moist areas and produces an edible berry. Zones 4-8

PEA (Pisum sativum). Peas are another great choice for a vertical edible. Sweet pea seeds are toxic, so do not plant them over a chicken run with no othe r vegetation.

PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora spec ies). This tropi cal vine produces a stunning flower that is followed by an edible fruit. Zones 9-11; P. incarnata (maypop) is the most hardy.

SQUASH (Cucurbita spec ies). Squash can be grown upward as a climbing vine. Some heavy fruit may need to be suppo rted as they ripen, depending on variety. Annual.

TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum). Tomato plants are often trained upward as vines for maximum production, and do best like that with chickens around, making the ripening fruit out of reach. Don't use tomatoes as a vine on a run fence without other foliage, since the leaves are toxic and chickens will be tempted to eat them if no other plants are nearby. Annual.

 

[BY Chicken Lady]

From the book: Free Range Chicken Gardens

Vines for chicken gardens

AKEBIA (Akebia quinata). This semievergreen vine produces beautiful flowers followed by edible fruit. It needs a pollinator. Zones 4-9.

CHAYOTE (Sechium edule). Also known as choko, chowchow, or pear squash, this fru it-bearing vine grows in warmer climates. Zones 9-11.

KIWI (Actinidia species). There are many woody varieties of this vine that bears tasty fruit, including the arguta hardy species that can be eaten whole. Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

GRAPE C Vitis species). A popular fruiting vine, grape comes in many varieties, table grapes to wine grapes . Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

MAGNOLIA VINE (Schisandra sp ecies). This vine does wel l in shady, moist areas and produces an edible berry. Zones 4-8

PEA (Pisum sativum). Peas are another great choice for a vertical edible. Sweet pea seeds are toxic, so do not plant them over a chicken run with no othe r vegetation.

PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora spec ies). This tropi cal vine produces a stunning flower that is followed by an edible fruit. Zones 9-11; P. incarnata (maypop) is the most hardy.

SQUASH (Cucurbita spec ies). Squash can be grown upward as a climbing vine. Some heavy fruit may need to be suppo rted as they ripen, depending on variety. Annual.

TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum). Tomato plants are often trained upward as vines for maximum production, and do best like that with chickens around, making the ripening fruit out of reach. Don't use tomatoes as a vine on a run fence without other foliage, since the leaves are toxic and chickens will be tempted to eat them if no other plants are nearby. Annual.

Great Information! I think I should be able to find something in this list that will work in our region. Thanks for mentioning that tomato leaves and pea seeds are toxic...I had no idea!

 

[BrownEggsnHam]

From the book: Free Range Chicken Gardens

Vines for chicken gardens

AKEBIA (Akebia quinata). This semievergreen vine produces beautiful flowers followed by edible fruit. It needs a pollinator. Zones 4-9.

CHAYOTE (Sechium edule). Also known as choko, chowchow, or pear squash, this fru it-bearing vine grows in warmer climates. Zones 9-11.

KIWI (Actinidia species). There are many woody varieties of this vine that bears tasty fruit, including the arguta hardy species that can be eaten whole. Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

GRAPE C Vitis species). A popular fruiting vine, grape comes in many varieties, table grapes to wine grapes . Zones 5-9, depending on variety.

MAGNOLIA VINE (Schisandra sp ecies). This vine does wel l in shady, moist areas and produces an edible berry. Zones 4-8

PEA (Pisum sativum). Peas are another great choice for a vertical edible. Sweet pea seeds are toxic, so do not plant them over a chicken run with no othe r vegetation.

PASSIONFLOWER (Passiflora spec ies). This tropi cal vine produces a stunning flower that is followed by an edible fruit. Zones 9-11; P. incarnata (maypop) is the most hardy.

SQUASH (Cucurbita spec ies). Squash can be grown upward as a climbing vine. Some heavy fruit may need to be suppo rted as they ripen, depending on variety. Annual.

TOMATO (Solanum lycopersicum). Tomato plants are often trained upward as vines for maximum production, and do best like that with chickens around, making the ripening fruit out of reach. Don't use tomatoes as a vine on a run fence without other foliage, since the leaves are toxic and chickens will be tempted to eat them if no other plants are nearby. Annual.

A second thanks for that list MoonShadow....

I was also curious about the same issue. You mentioned the toxicity of sweet peas, which drew a large question mark, as I've been feeding my hens some of last year's remaining sweet peas (from the freezer), which they love like candy. So I had to do a little searching to find out if I was 'killing them softly...' (to quote Carly Simon)...

According to Wikipedia... there is evidence that the seed of the 'sweet pea' is toxic if ingested in quantity. However in my case, I realized from the description of the pea that what I've been growing is not the 'sweet pea' (Lathyrus odoratus) but is the 'snow pea' also called 'sugar pea' which is what I knew it by (hence my confusion). I found that the Latin nominclature for the 'snow (sugar) pea' is 'Pisum sativum var. macrocarpon', which is obviously an unrelated species to the 'sweet pea' but is of the good species you posted about. So a further clarification of your list would be that the 'sweet pea' (Lathyrus odorous) is the type generally grown for the flowers/aroma rather than garden vittles and with that knowledge I can rest my mind that I haven't poisoned my girls, but just gave them a fix on their addiction for sweet goodies....

I think I'll be planting some of those alongside their run, as it grows quite fast with prolific edible pods and leaves that hopefully they'll share with me. Again thanks for the tip!