Well I had a brain storm and trying something different. I planted peas along the East side of my run. I figured that since I have tin 2' up the chickens won't be able to reach and the peas need something to climb. Then as the peas grow we can pick from the outside and IF/ when they get to the point we need to go inside the run to pick then the chickens will get some goodies too. I may put beans on the South side and ? on the west that way it will allow sun and shade in my run. Any opinions on this silly idea???
I had a passionfruit vine that was glossy, beautiful, and fruitful but the hens have gobbled up every leaf the can reach and left the ratty vines behind. It's not so pretty anymore but it is still putting out some fruit so I'm just going to leave it as is.
I plant outside the run . I have bradford pears, blueberries,and purple leaved plum now. I am going to plant a large growing red leafed maple at the end for shade. Along the edge of the fence I plant greens. I gather these for the hens as they get ready. Also it gives me an incentive to check for digging around the run. I will be putting in more deciduous trees for evening shade here soon. They will need them on the west side of this mtn. Jean
Last year when we first got our chickens, we built the coop inside of the garden. The chickens could not get into the garden because it was fenced off, but they started getting restless in such a small area, so we opened up the gate and let them roam into the garden, after the chipmunks came in and ate everything but the corn & Sunflowers.. The chickens loved the snack :}, lol.
(pic of my daughter smelling the sunflowers)
I plan on now putting my garden outside of the old garden where the chickens now roam... The big sunflowers and corn make great shade in the hot summer!
Pic of the Coop/ Garden from the outside.. my daughter needed chapstick, lol