Need advice for the best vines and plants for in a chicken run!

[Sono]

I have a fully enclosed chicken run and I wanted to plant some vines on the walls all around it. I would plant them on the outside of the run so that the chickens couldn't dig them up. I was thinking grape vines? I know grapes are toxic to chickens, but I think they won't eat them if they are toxic. Would you guys suggest different vines? I'm not set on Grape, it was just the first thing to come to mind. I want decently fast growing ones. The reason I want to plant vines on the walls is because: A-I love how it looks, B-my dog is always harassing the chickens through the fence (with vines, he wouldn't be able to see them), C-It would give them shade in the summer, D-It will attract bugs for the hens to eat, and E-It might help keep predators away(?). I live in Post Falls ID so I think I am in zone 6B (for plants). If I had vines all around the run, would it make it too dark? My run does not have a roof, but it does have a big tree in it. My run wall is made of this https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-welded-wire-60-in-x-100-ft wire and is reinforced with wood posts every 4-5 ft or so.

I also want to plant some bushes inside the run for enrichment, but I think the chickens would just dig them up. Would there be any way I could put some sort of chicken wire over the dirt near the bushes so that they can't uproot them, without inhibiting the growth of the plant? If there is, what bushes would you suggest for inside a chicken run? Incase it matters, my run is about 301.438 sq ft, and I have 9 hens.

Morning glories, cucumbers.... any vine veggies they would eat thats good for them, green beans,,,,,

 

[GardenDmpls]

Here is what I have been doing. Every year I start pole beans around the outside of the run. They are started about 12-18" away and I put in trellis netting that meets the coop wire about five feet up, so the vines meet the wire mesh out of reach of nibbling beaks. I harvest lots of beans hanging inside and out. I had one chicken for 9 years who used to ride my shoulder and nibble on leaves while I picked. This will be the first year without her. The beans plants provide good shade and screening, traveling over the side and top mesh of the pen. The bean flowers also provide beauty. I try to plant one or two scarlet runners for the flowers (and the beans). I have planted snake bean, an edible gourd, to grow up over the top. They hang down nicely. Cucumbers and other climbing fruits can act as filler among the beans. Just make sure to start everything away from the base of the pen where the chickens can't bite off the new stems. Once the vines make contact higher up, the birds leave them alone.

 

[Kovetti]

Why not?

Mint is something I always recommend you plant in pots. It spreads like wildfire and it's nearly impossible to get rid of it . It's VERY invasive and the root system is beyond extensive. Please trust me when I tell you planting it in pots is the ONLY way to go. (Speaking from experience!)

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Morning glories, cucumbers.... any vine veggies they would eat thats good for them, green beans,,,,,

Those are good ideas. I didn't know chickens could or would eat Morning Glories.

 

[ChickenShepherd_6116]

Consider planting hops.
https://northcircleseeds.com/products/hops

Will they eat hops?

 

[ChaosMom]

Mint is something I always recommend you plant in pots. It spreads like wildfire and it's nearly impossible to get rid of it . It's VERY invasive and the root system is beyond extensive. Please trust me when I tell you planting it in pots is the ONLY way to go. (Speaking from experience!)

Ditto for lemon balm, which is a member of the mint family.

 

[Nanavanchicken]

I have a fully enclosed chicken run and I wanted to plant some vines on the walls all around it. I would plant them on the outside of the run so that the chickens couldn't dig them up. I was thinking grape vines? I know grapes are toxic to chickens, but I think they won't eat them if they are toxic. Would you guys suggest different vines? I'm not set on Grape, it was just the first thing to come to mind. I want decently fast growing ones. The reason I want to plant vines on the walls is because: A-I love how it looks, B-my dog is always harassing the chickens through the fence (with vines, he wouldn't be able to see them), C-It would give them shade in the summer, D-It will attract bugs for the hens to eat, and E-It might help keep predators away(?). I live in Post Falls ID so I think I am in zone 6B (for plants). If I had vines all around the run, would it make it too dark? My run does not have a roof, but it does have a big tree in it. My run wall is made of this https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/red-brand-welded-wire-60-in-x-100-ft wire and is reinforced with wood posts every 4-5 ft or so.

I also want to plant some bushes inside the run for enrichment, but I think the chickens would just dig them up. Would there be any way I could put some sort of chicken wire over the dirt near the bushes so that they can't uproot them, without inhibiting the growth of the plant? If there is, what bushes would you suggest for inside a chicken run? Incase it matters, my run is about 301.438 sq ft, and I have 9

 

[fsauwphoto]

I have night blooming jasmine and grapes but the free range chickens don;t bopther with them at all. My best plant for shade, fruit and perches is Mulberry , they love my trees which get big