What kind of tree/bush to plant in chicken yard

[Imp]

crazyhen is right sometimes chickens will eat anything green in the yard. Somebody yesterday posted that apparently their chickens had stripped the bark off a couple trees.
I don't have that problem, they have never damaged a plant except by scratching. To protect from that you could use one of those fiber or rubber tree ring things that go on the ground around the trunk. I haven't needed to bother with the pear trees. I only have 4 hens running loose in a large backyard with lots of plants, so I think there's enough to keep them occupied, without resorting to destruction.

Imp- The raccoons(at least 7 this year) seem to be fat lazy suburban raccoons who do not bother the chickens or coop. I have no idea how often they are in the yard together, because I'm at work most days. Gulp!

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

The chickens really don't mind what they use for shade, even pieces of plywood propped a few feet off the ground will keep them cool & happy.

I had a piece of plywood nailed up, but a storm came up and knocked it down, when I went to lift it up there was a dead hen under it, it must of fallen on her, when it fell, so I'm not fond of plywood anymore. We are in tornado ally, so we have bad storms and alot of high winds. So every thing I seem to put up gets ripped or torn off. Which is why I thought of trees .

 

[michickenwrangler]

I'm partial to evergreens--hemlock, cedar, fir, white pine. Our gals LOVE scratching in the needles for seeds and bugs. Plus they're aromatic.

 

[Little Ameraucana Mom]

I hadn't even thought of evergreens. Thanks that is another great option.

 

[Pandora]

We have evergreens and crabapples in our bird runs. For some reason our pheasants really liked the pines. The crabapples have been a hit with everyone. The tend to strip all the perching branches of leaves, but the beauty of a crabapple is that they are vigorous growers... so it makes p for the damage inflicted by the birds and I can prune as much as needed without hurting them.

I'd suggest planting a larger tree so that it has a better jump start and is viewed as less tasty. I realize its more $$ but worth it if you don't have to replace it from an early demise!

 

[NellaBean]

I'm not sure what this is (weeping cherry?) but my chickens love to hang out under it.

I butchered it last year putting in a fence so it is growing in kind of funny this year. Used to have all 'branches' touching the ground. Maybe next year it will be recovered...

It's not all that big but I can fit 10 chickens under it easy!

 

[Ang]

Quote:
Crumb! This means I am ancient! I was "planted" in the 1960's.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Crumb! This means I am ancient! I was "planted" in the 1960's.

Aaawww!, Just take your pills, and it'll be better soon.

Imp

 

[lavacaw]

My neighbor has a good old fashioned mulberry tree that her chickens love. They can hear the fruit hit the ground and race for it in the summer. Apparently all that nitrogen rich fertilizer doesn't affect it adversely cause it keeps on growing. Think I would put a cage around it until it starts growing really well to keep it from getting dug up though.

 

[MIKE555444]

If you are only looking at shade I would suggest a sugar maple tree. They grow quickly and provide a great deal of shade at an early age. As far as planting inside the run... it is posilbe BUT you may want to put a small fence around the shrub/tree in the middle of your run to protect it until it is large enough to not appear to be food to the chickies.

I would suggest you take a look at your run in the HOT after noon today. See which way the sun is hitting your run and plant your shade in a outer spot that provides afternoon shade when it is hotest now during the summer. Sun during the morning hours is less like to punish your birds(except in extreme heat). In fact you could plant one to provide morning shade and one to provide evening shade if your like

Good Luck!