What to plant in your run?

[steppinthrax]

I've got my chicken run pretty well fenced out and cleaned out. I was thinking to plant something inside that they could eat. However, I was told that it won't work because the chickens will peck and claw it to death. I was reading about mint, lavender, etc. What do you guys put inside?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

It's probably more of a problem that they scratch plants out by the roots. I'm planning on putting framed wire on top of the plants to keep them from killing the plants. Also I'm going to put some potted plants in and switch them out but I've never done it before so I don't know if that will work or not.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Throw a few flower boxes in there and start a sprouted seed garden! You can pre soak and sprout some to get them started then bury new seed a little deeper then turning the soil every three days or so to expose new sprouts. I do this and my girls go into the bed each evening and scratch up the sprouted grain. They love it and it didn't matter if they scratched up the bed this way!

You could also till it right into the ground!

 

[HenHouse4Life]

This image is from online, I personally don't have these but I do know people who have built grazing boxes. I'm not sure how well they work but it's an option.
Anything you plant directly into the ground in the chicken run will most likely not survive after they've pecked and scratched.
You could start fodder trays also.

 

[Parront]

View attachment 1807950This image is from online, I personally don't have these but I do know people who have built grazing boxes. I'm not sure how well they work but it's an option.
Anything you plant directly into the ground in the chicken run will most likely not survive after they've pecked and scratched.
You could start fodder trays also.

Those look interesting. Dividing the run into "pastures" so that you could give the plants a chance to regrow might be an option if you have the space. Seed it with fast growing grass and things like extra garden seeds?

 

[harmonyp]

I have rye grass planted in the free range area. I keep it watered constantly. I could keep grass in there with 6 hens, not sure how it'll now work with 17. I have grape vines planted on the exterior. Not sure if I recommend or not. Girls LOVE the grapes. They are very heavy, leaning on the fencing and bending it. I think with their own support structure they'd work fairly well.

 

[Henriettamom919]

I have rye grass planted in the free range area. I keep it watered constantly. I could keep grass in there with 6 hens, not sure how it'll now work with 17. I have grape vines planted on the exterior. Not sure if I recommend or not. Girls LOVE the grapes. They are very heavy, leaning on the fencing and bending it. I think with their own support structure they'd work fairly well.
View attachment 1809080

They do love grapes and watching them eat them cracks me up! Trying to choke it back as quickly as possible so they can get to the next grape before someone else does!