3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[Duncan08]

Possibly being over optimistic but....

My dad is building me a WIR for my christmas present, it will be right in full view of the house so wanted to soften it up and maybe grow something over it.

 

I have been on the Run pages, which have been very helpful and I love the idea of putting some window boxes on the sides.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions of any climbing plants that won't get eaten, something scented would be lovely, like Jasmine or Honeysuckle, or pretty like passionflower or clematis.

Also need to know if it may be poisonous to the girls.

 

Maybe I should just grow a couple of grape vines - instant treats on tap

 

Thanks

Sue

[counturchickens]

I have a climbing rose next to mine, which they leave alone. Gobbled the clematis though, so I got some strong plastic. Pea and bean netting to put round the bottom until it grew out of their reach.

What a fab Xmas present though!

[Chortle Chook]

I like your idea of putting window boxes or mangers on the side of your WIR

 

For the climbers I have honeysuckle that seems to be left alone right down to the bottom leaves, and lots of different clematis but these are only left alone when they grow above chook jumping hight and so can't be cut right down to the bottom like the books say they should be. Clematis viticella are therefore probably best as they don't need to be cut right down. I haven't tried jasmine yet. I've also got pirocantha and chaenomeles (spelling ?? - Japanese quince). Far from being put off by the thorns on either, my chickens have stripped both plants at the base but they (the climbers) are doing well above chook hight. Climbing roses too get stripped at the bottom but do well above chook reaching level.

 

If you want a bush to grow up through the WIR then I have found that my chickens love bamboo. They eat the bottom leaves so expsoing the pretty stems and then love sitting underneath the shady canopy taking turns or rather having squables about who should perch on the highest rock that I've put underneath to protect the roots. To stop the bamboo spreading all over the place, plant it in the ground in a largish plant pot.

[hinterglem]

My chooks luuurve jasmine.

[splodge88]

We have lovely honey-suckle which the chooks ignore have had a peck of the berries but not to their liking (have heard rumour some varieties may be poisonous...but have never heard of any chickens getting ill from it)

[Duncan08]

Thanks so much for all the great suggestions.

I might put a sheet of acrylic Along one side at the base and try some Jasmine and honeysuckle. Jasmine is one of my favourites and if I can protect it up to chook height then we could be onto a winner. Love the bamboo idea too. They have a tree in their netted area which is great for sheltering under and digging around.

 

It is a great Christmas present isn't it, but I think my dad loves the girls as much as me, he is cheif egg collector when I am at work and I often finding him chatting away to them