will gourds survive if planted around the run fence??

[ThreeGlovers]

Has anyone tried to plant gourds around the outside of their chicken runs? Those dipper gourds. Maybe the little ornamental types? I was thinking that it would help with shade and I wouldn't have to build a seperate trellis for them to grow on.

Thanks
Bo

 

[2468Chickensrgr8]

Well from my experience with my girls when I have let them free range and they get into my vegetable garden and find any of my gourds ripe or not ripe ....if one manages to get a little hole started through the skin ...everyone will take turns at eating the gourd...but I dont really mind because I mostly plant my gourds to fed the girls anyways...they love them....they also like the Tomato's....green or red.....

 

[LynneP]

You need about 2 ft clearance because the roots are rather large. I'll be growing gourds, squash, pumpkin and sunflowers outside my run this summer. Had a few last year. But my hens are a closed flock, so I bring the treats into the run, except for small plantings like nasturtiums that grown into the run...

 

[setter4]

I tried to plant some vines around mine last summer...HA. The hens kept them pecked back to almost nothing. You can't plant ANYTHING GREEN where they can reach it! lol