What kind of tree/bush to plant in chicken yard

[thechickmagnet]

Hi,
do you know if it is ok for the chickens to pick at the texas privet hedge?

 

[can you hear me now?]

Lol all been answered. Just felt I had to say that.

 

[clayburnley]

My chickens always enjoyed the beautyberry bushes growing in their pen. They grow in an arching 4-8 foot pattern and produce edible berries in the fall. If given some protection and water they will grow swiftly. Annual pruning to about one foot will increase fruiting for the next season. Wild birds don't seem to relish the berries, but my chickens always ate whatever they could get to. Pretty purple berries in the fall.

 

[craftychicken]

our chickens love goji berries! i know, sounds fancy. We got a seedling plant for $3 at our local farmer's market in the spring. its now about 3 feet tall. Still a bit spindly, but it should grow into a bush. not much shade, but the chickens are wild for the berries (

), and eat the leaves they can reach as well.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

It used to be traditional here in the southeast to plant a mulberry tree in a hen yard so I did.

That photo is now more than two years old so the tree is over twice that size now. The shade in the summer really helps relieve stress on the birds.

 

[cybercat]

Mulberry would be a great tree for a coop area. Besides shade all that great fruit to eat when it falls. Another I think of is willow. Accrocding to the French willow leaves make dark shell eggs.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

In the desert southwest, we've done well with mesquite trees and rosemary bushes. The gals like to nest in the rosemary, which can be a pain unless you keep it trimmed, plus rosemary is arguably the best herb for seasoning chicken.

Bryan

 

[peanutgallery]

Wow! y'all have wonderful ideas about protective shade in the pens!

This is our first year with chickens and we are learning a lot, as we did planting a garden here where they soil is so poor and the local animals are so hungry! LOL

My husband and I have been thinking that next spring we will make a protected path for our ladies to get into our garden which is next door to their "yard". But after reading all your posts, I'm hesitant about this idea now. Sounds like the ladies will eat anything that is green. Don't they hesitate away from something that will hurt them like natural predators do...they know which plants are poisonous and which are not.

I wanted to make the run for them into the garden so they have more "food" choices. As there will be bugs, green plants, some weeds etc. We want to put a door up so we can control their access. We have a lot of wild predatory animals here. This summer was the first time we even had a garden grow. The past three years we were so disappointed when the local deer decided they liked our fresh young plants. We finally got that problem solved by putting up more fence. We also have fox, bobcat, coyote, and possum. The ones we are aware of anyway.

That's why I want a protected run into the garden. Do you think this would work? Or will they destroy the plants like our friendly deer have? They could roam freely in there once the plants are established but before the veggie is mature. Any suggestions?

Jan

 

[Lesa]

I let my chickens in the garden before it is planted and after I put it to bed. They will not only eat your plants, they will dig them up, in their search for bugs...I plant garlic in the fall, so that area is off limits. They don't eat the garlic, but they surely love to dig it up! The best thing about chickens and gardens is all the great fertilizer!

 

[joebryant]

Go to ANY PLACE in the wild after a heavy rain. Pull up all the seedlings of everything/anything that you see. Take a spade, cut a splice into the soil, stick in the roots, and push down the soil to cover them. Use an excess of seedlings in the area(s) where your chickens free range, and in two or three years thin them out with clicppers.
Those seedling will quickly give your chickens cover from hawks and other predators, plus they will provide a cool place for your chickens to hang out during the hot summer days.