Henergy Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 So me & the girls have had 3 years of harmony, eggs, no foxes, no vets but the odd (or slightly more frequent) escapee. Bad winters and wet summers have meant though that most of their run is dust - it looks bare & sad I think. I do reseed the edge of the run & move their fencing in and out accordingly but what I'd like to do this year is plant some bushes in the dust to encourage more insects & give a bit of shade. (Also to try & stop my escapee by making their area more attractive) But what can I plant ??? As an experiment today I put a number of my potted plants in to see what they might demolish - and basically they ate everything even the hydrangea that I'd been saving for them specifically. What can I plant that they won't eat and that won't harm them if they do nibble occasionally ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SherlockHolmes Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 I have bantam hens who are fairly content with scratching in the dirt and not displacing any plants. I can only suggest you plant mature bushes which are harder for them to dig up or eat? Buddelia grows fast and is quite a sturdy bush that attracts lots of insects. I also like lavender which provides winter colour and could disguise the scent of hen poo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 Anything Plastic If you do find out please let the rest of know. Mine love Lavender. Also it changes what they destroy each year, what they dont touch one year the next, they will decimate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 it changes what they destroy each year, what they dont touch one year the next, they will decimate it. That is so true I planted loads of irises one year and they weren't touched but the next year they were decimated. The plants that have lasted my 4 years of chicken keeping are as follows: (but you need to get fairly large plants to start with, plug plants of anything just do not stand a chance) Peonies Hemarocalis / day lillies - great for adding colour in the late summer Regale lillies - but a big no no if you have cats as their pollen is ultra poisonous to felines Rosemary (more successful than lavender which does get eaten) Box balls (protect the roots when you first plant them, till they are established or, because they are shallow rooted, they'll be hoofed out) Also good for climbing up the side of runs, if you protect their bottoms - Roses Clematis Jasmine Japonica (Chaenomalies) Honeysuckle - both summer and winter varieties And for shrubs Bamboo - these are really successful and I noticed that they are used in Beale Park bird sancutary down the road to make things look pretty Mini apple trees (root stock M27 or less) Witchhazel also the following but note these are poisonous, however my critters seem to know never to touch them Euphorbia of all kinds Daphnes of any kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 There's some good ideas there I think - I like the bamboo ideas too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 My wee cockerel under one of our bamboos The chickens keep the base of the stems stripped clean as they love the leaves, but this is a good thing for bamboos because it allows you to see the pretty stems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 Great photo - thank you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted May 21, 2013 Share Posted May 21, 2013 As an experiment today I put a number of my potted plants in to see what they might demolish - and basically they ate everything even the hydrangea that I'd been saving for them specifically. Sorry, but Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Henergy Posted May 21, 2013 Author Share Posted May 21, 2013 I know - I am officially mad !!! I have to add that once they started eating I removed said plant & tried another !!!!! I have even been hiding behind a fence to see where my asbo chicken escapes from lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
