Need ideas for fast-growing edibles to plant around chicken fence

[eggsontoast]

Can you experts give me some ideas for things to plant around the chicken wire fence of my run? The area gets partial sun...I'm in Zone 8b so I only have a couple freezes a year and about 9 months of summer. I'm looking for something cheap, easy-to-grow, and nutritious to plant directly into the soil surrounding the fence. Something that would "climb" on the chicken wire would be a plus, although I don't want anything TOO heavy that would pull the wire down! I've seen the article on growing sprouts (great idea, BTW!) and plan to use that as well. On that note, could I just throw wheatgrass seeds on the ground in the yard and let them do their thing? Or would the chickens eat them before they had a chance to sprout?

 

[mulewagon]

Mine love honeysuckle vines - if it tries to overrun the rest of the yard, pull it up and throw it in the pen.

They'll eat the grass seed, but you can make a shallow box out of wood, and cover it with wire. Then they can bite it off as it grow through the top.

 

[knjinnm]

I've read several threads about "forage" oats. Are you planning to plant in the run or around the outside parameter? If it's in the run the birds will eat the seeds or scratch the new sprouts as soon as they emerge.

Edit to add:
Have you seen this thread?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=437115&p=1

 

[MakNugget]

Yeah, what Knjninm said, or about wheat grass. Edible at any stage.

My run is all sand, so what I do during the warm months is I throw out more than they can eat and allow the stuff to bury. Or I'll "plant" a bunch in a small area and cover with mesh to keep the chickens from scratching. In a couple days they'll sprout, and start to grow greens. Take off the mesh and let them go crazy over it. Otherwise they'll come across one sprouting while they scratch around during the day.

So in your application, you can easily let a section germinate while the chickens go after another that's ready for harvest. It takes about 7-10 days for grass 6-8" tall if you can wait that long, that is.

 

[Zoomom]

I was planning to plant scarlet runner beans around the chicken yard, if they don't eat the shoots before they have a chance to grow. The wheat grass is a good idea though.
Good luck with your plantings!

 

[featherbaby]

I love vines and use them wherever I can. One you can easily grow from seed that is edible is Nasturtium. Both leaves and blooms are used in salads and would be delectable tid bits for the chickens. Plant them 6 " away from the fence though so they can't eat it right down to the ground or pull it up by the roots. A bushy (20 " tall) and prolific plant with beautiful blooms is the 4 O'clock. They reseed themselves each year so you'd never have to replant. They cover themselves in bright red, pink and yellow blooms from June til frost and put on a beautiful show.

One year I planted pole beans just for the fuzzbutts and they loved them! Best treat for $1.00's worth of seeds I ever got.

 

[Imp]

Back when I had more sun in my backyard. I would plant sugar snap peas. Peas for me, the leaves and peas for the chickens.

Imp

 

[knjinnm]

You can also plant mangles, a root plant similar to sugar beets.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=442647&p=2

 

[wolftracks]

posted wrong items in wrong threads.

I wanted to ask what the fastest things you all have tried are.

I want something that can promote good health and grows continuous and fast.

Any ideas?

 

[knjinnm]

I found this on another thread, kind of scary.

So during summer months put in some extra tomatoes, zucchini, pumpkins and more if you have the space.