Nanking bush cherry, yea or nay?

[VictoriaTemple]

Just purchased 2 Nanking bush cherries. Knowing that cherries are a favorite treat for chickens, I intended to plant one in their yard and one outside the fence for me. But now I discover that Nankings are not actually cherries at all, but are more closely related to plums? Am I still safe putting one in their yard (obviously protecting it until well established)? Thanks!

 

[chickens really]

Yes..it's safe. I'd plant away from them though and only pick the fruit for them..

 

[Don 27]

My birds will fly up in our Apple the trees and cut the stems that hold the Apples. Once the Apple falls they then fly down and eat it. It's kinda funny to watch . I have only had this happen with my game fowl hens .

 

[GRB73]

I have a nanking cherry. It is about 7 years old and 7' tall. It is right next to the chicken run and provides some shade. As for cherries, the wild birds gobble them before the chickens.

 

[VictoriaTemple]

That’s another thing I’m afraid of, I’d like a FEW for me at least! Oh well, I can always plant more. If these 2 work out well, I want to plant several along the back fence of the chicken run as a flowering/fruiting hedge. They will grow in pots for a year or two so I can move them around and find where they grow best. The sun here is a little iffy.

 

[AppleMomma65]

We have several Nanking cherry bushes and get loads of fruit ... but only if I put "scare tape" on several of the branches. Otherwise, all of the wild birds pick off the fruit. The fruit is PiTA to de-seed (i.e., a bowl for the fruit, another bowl for the seeds, a bowl for the de-seeded fruit, several aprons, several towels, and probably a bottle of wine) but when you get fruit, they make a wonderful jam and it's totally worth it!