plants and shrubs for the run

[tlck9]

I'm spoiling my chucks with some plants and shrubs where they can hide side under etc and wanted to know the best ones, ones to stay away from etc

The run apart from perches is fairly bare, so i though they may like some shade for when the hot weather arrives (if i ever does)

[Suechooks]

By chance there was a Rosemary bush/plant where I was putting one side of my run. I left it there and it grew through the netting and provides the chooks with shade from sun/ shelter from rain/ dust bath/ somewhere to lay if they can't be bothered to go to the nest box! Best of all they don't trash it and its evergreen and about 4' wide and deep and high

[PAULW]

You could try growing sage and onions then they will be ready stuffed

[MaureenHall]

I've got a Pampas grass in one of my runs, nothing kills those!!!! There's plenty of space underneath for digging and sheltering and hiding eggs There's also an old lilac tree stump with honeysuckle growing over it that they like to roost on as well as shelter under. I know I've read somewhere (probably on here) that honeysuckle is poisonous to chooks, but it was there before and they've never "attacked" it

[Flummery]

I think it's the berries that are poisonous Maureen. With chooks, you won't ever get the flowers to the berry stage!

[mr darcy]

My Mr D's fav nibble was honeysuckle flowers, he used to go potty trying to get scarlet over to peck at them (sighs reminiscently...) in my run I've got bamboo and a plum tree,i plan to plant around the outside of the fence, perfumed geraniums that discourage flies,sunflowers that I can poke thru the netting to peck at and sweet corn for tha same reason, lovely spoilt little chickabees! I love em to bits

[BUFFS]

i have a few delphiniums in large pots,after flowering is finished and flower spikes are removed,the pots put in the pen and watch the spring heels jumping for the leaves,keeps them happy for days..

[dexterdoglancashire]

By chance there was a Rosemary bush/plant where I was putting one side of my run. I left it there and it grew through the netting and provides the chooks with shade from sun/ shelter from rain/ dust bath/ somewhere to lay if they can't be bothered to go to the nest box! Best of all they don't trash it and its evergreen and about 4' wide and deep and high

I'm having my new run delivered on Friday, and Ive got a rosemary bush I was going to move, but I wont now.

[BFG]

Sounds like a good idea. Chucks are naturally forest animals anyway, so sure they'd appreciate a bit of cover.

What about herbs? Herbs are generally good for health and a lot of them are said to be insect and/or rodent deterrents.

[di]

Not necessarily the most attractive plant but we had a huge stinging nettle plant in their run last year.They didn't eat it but were often found dustbathing under it...just a bit of a nuisance when the one girl that never wanted to go to bed would hide under it knowing we didn't fancy getting stung to get her out!

[tlck9]

Okay, thinking along the lines of Rosemary plants down one side.

What about Bamboo, lavender plants wild flowers and sunflowers???

[Shellintons]

The only things that survived in my garden last year were a couple of old rosemary and lavander bushes I had, and the pots of potatoes. All of my onions were dug up by the chickens and eaten. Ever herb I grew got the same treatment except the parsley (which I grew for them, thought they'd like it) and Hector has eaten that over winter.
I also have some trees which they leave alone and a bramble which they like to get under. So I shall be looking back here for more possible plants for this summer. Might give the nettles a miss though ;p

[Suechooks]

Okay, thinking along the lines of Rosemary plants down one side.

What about Bamboo, lavender plants wild flowers and sunflowers???

I doubt if the wild flowers would get a chance to establish and they eat sunflowers! Bamboo should survive - the pandas look as if they struggle to get through it . Lavender will be ok too provided they get established before they're dug up!

[frias]

How about getting a couple of plants established in large tubs and then putting the tubs in the run? I don't think anything new would get chance to root if put in after the chickens. We put the new run where the old raspberries were. No more raspberries for me then! The girls ate every leaf too and I don't think any new shoots will be allowed to get anywhere near big enough to ever produce again.