I have recently developed the area for my chickens and it is mostly soil at the moment. I am looking to add some turf and some plants and trees as well, both for decoration, shade and food. I was wondering if anybody could recommend any for me? Thanks in advance
Plants/trees
- Thread starter ajmellu7
- Start date
BabyBantam
Member
Lots of options open to you, but you must make sure that the plants not poisonous to chickens, and protect the base of the plants from them so they don't dig them up or damage the roots.
You could try an evergreen shrub like viburnum tinus - winter flowering and bees love it, or small fruit trees. Grass may be a little more tricky as they'll probably dig through it pretty quickly (depending on size of enclosure). You could also try a climber like clematis Montana if the area is fenced off, this flowers in the spring and will cover a fence panel in a couple of years easily. If you've got net over the top though, climbers will be heavy, so annual clipping back would be needed.
You could also try a small silver birch tree if the enclosure is big enough, provides very pretty light shade, small birds love it and the leaves are antiseptic, so good to add to compost bins and for the soil.
You could try an evergreen shrub like viburnum tinus - winter flowering and bees love it, or small fruit trees. Grass may be a little more tricky as they'll probably dig through it pretty quickly (depending on size of enclosure). You could also try a climber like clematis Montana if the area is fenced off, this flowers in the spring and will cover a fence panel in a couple of years easily. If you've got net over the top though, climbers will be heavy, so annual clipping back would be needed.
You could also try a small silver birch tree if the enclosure is big enough, provides very pretty light shade, small birds love it and the leaves are antiseptic, so good to add to compost bins and for the soil.
chrismahon
Well-known member
Grow fruit trees Ajmellu7. Protect them from damage initially then they can eat the fruit. Ours used to pig out on plums and apples. the damage to grass depends on the density of chickens to land. You will need at least 50 square metres per bird to stand any change of growing grass.
Fruit trees are good but they do need protecting in the early days as the chickens will leap up and defoliate them ! Also the roots need protecting. I find the willows very useful as they are fast growing but they need to be cut back regularly if you don't want to be overwhelmed.