What Kind of plants are good for pen?

[RendonRoo]

I'm thinking of putting rosemary on the outside of my run, Don't think it will hurt the chicks and it grows fast. They will be able to pick at it when it grows thru wire but they won't be able to kill it off. I like the smell of rosemary and am hoping it helps to cover any smell from the chicks. Just a thought, hasn't been tried by me yet. Anyone else ?

 

[CARS]

HappyHatch'en :

I've been told a chicken will pack the dirt harder than concrete, if there were any cracks, weeds might grow because they do well in my driveway. I believe the previous thread has the answer if your run is big enough to split.....perhaps buy some sod from time to time....or astro turf....LOL
Happy Hatch'en Folks

I guess that would depend on the soil and region you live in.

My "run" was an old dirt floor hog lean-to. There is enough nutrients in my soil to support a ton of worms that keep the soil loose below and the chickens till up the topsoil.​

 

[WalkingWolf]

Yep they pack my soil so much I sink to my ankles in heavy rain...

 

[lurky]

In order to grow anything in the chicken run, i think its imperative to have an extra run to move them into while the other is growing up. I have a friend who has cockatiels and when she gives them new seed, she empties the old into the 'extra run'. There are always seeds that got missed by her birds and they grow in the chicken run. Its amazing the stuff that grows in there. She switches them back and forth and it works very well. A bag of cockatiel seed is cheap enough to try if you are able to divide the run space to allow it to grow. I plan on trying this method this spring.

 

[chickensioux]

I have several LARGE shrubs in my chicken area. I tansplanted them when they were already very large. I made sure they were not poisonous and they seem to do well. The girls peck off all the lower leaves but the shrubs were 4' tall and have done very well. I placed large rocks (football sized) around the bottom so they would scratch to the roots. They scratch all around but can't get to the roots. Also in the middle of the summer, it's another place to lay in the shade....

 

[melanie]

Well, I think I'll try transplaning large shrubs. Today, the girls got let out of the pen, but my turkey hopped over the backyard fence. The big dogs didn't bother her but the female jack russell, who is a HUGE pain in the rear, would have had she been out there.

 

[chickensioux]

Oh yeah another thought, keep the large shrubs away from the fence, they will use them to get out. Luck!

 

[Kung Foo Chicken]

Quote:
Haha I have a large rosemary plant inside my run and a small magnolia tree. That is the only things they won't eat. They pulled at them at first and shook their heads like, "Oh! That is nasty!" You might could try a Japanese Honeysuckle with roots on the outside and let it get established before you put birds in it so it will keep up. It is invasive though.

 

[RendonRoo]

Thanks KungFoo,