What plants do well in a run?

[Kidhenduckohmy]

My run did the same thing. It was all grass all summer and when the snow started to fly, but come spring thaw it is all dirt, and the chickens didn't even go on it in the winter, they stayed close to the coop. So was it what they did during the summer that killed it? I was thinking if I fenced off more area then the grass would come back, but now I am afraid I will just have a bigger dirt
square. Can you make a run large enough to keep grass?

 

[Ms Steak]

They don`t kill nettles. My run has a very fine display

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I have a lot of "green" in my run in addition to the 3 grazing frames. They don't bother the lilac bush at all, are not the least bit interested in any variety of mint or lavender. What are are interested in is digging all around the roots of anything I plant in the run. If I put some small logs, bricks or large rocks around the roots when I plant--they leave everything alone. I only have 3 hens in about 400-500 sq feet, so they have a lot of options. They don't even bother the hostas. When they first popped up, the girls liked to nibble the fresh leaves so I covered them with chicken wire.

Great run area for your girls. I see you have three grazing frames and am curious to know how you like them. I can see "green" so it looks like they're doing the job! We're working on doing some grazing frames now and I'm anxious to get them planted.

You're lucky your girls ignore your hostas as most chickens I've encountered will eat it like lettuce. I really like your hanging baskets, too. I grow nasturtiums and herbs in baskets and pots on my deck for my girls and think that some would do well as hanging pots in the run. Great idea!

We're working on a new run and my plan is to secure the exterior perimeter of the run via hardware cloth apron on the ground. On top the apron I'll be putting a raised planting bed. That's where I'd like to place my herbs, nasturtiums, and some vining plants to grow over the run wire. My plan is to use vining veggies - pole beans, sugar snap peas, cucumbers - up the run and any veggies from those plants would be destined as chicken snacks.

Not going to get that done this growing season, I'm afraid. The run and beds will be done but probably past planting season.