What plants can I plant in my chicken run that my chickens would enjoy

[Iamaqte]

I am trying to add some plants to my chicken run since my chickens made the entire thing almost bare this year. I want to plant some plants for next year so they have something to "graze" on. I am planting strawberry plants, cherry tomatoes plants, and Jerusalem artichokes (can u tell i love spoiling my chickens?) Any suggestions are helpful! Plants that come up year after year would be the best, but i will take any suggestions.

I am also looking for a bush that i can plant along the outside of the run that the chickens can peck at and enjoy. Any ideas?

I have a HUGE area for them.. so anything is possible!

Thanks in advanced!

 

[Wooden_Pony]

I plant "Woolly Thyme" in my run. It is a ground cover.

My chickens love to eat it and the little flowers plus it smells great when they are walking on it and scratching it up. The pieces that break off when the hens scratch it can re-root. I have to water mine during the summer months because we do not get rain here durning the summertime.

I also found that if you plant it and mulch around it with "Gorillia Hair" the shredded redwood mulch it grows really well. Plus my hens LOVE to dust bath in the mulch and enjoy the bugs that the combo of ground cover and mulch collect up.

 

[chickflick]

My chickens love my hostas!! Not much left of them!! I want to plant some in their run so they'll have something to munch on when they can't free range.

 

[schmoo]

Heres a link to a previous thread on the subject. The thread also has a post with a link in it to poison plants.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=10743

 

[RioLindoAz]

I plant beans any beans will be good. but I recament you plant them in a pot so that the chickens can jump on the pot, eat the leaves but not dig them out.

 

[NJfarmer]

I thought about planting some mint plants. I think they grow back every year and it is a quick growing vineplant. You could put it on the oustide of the coop and let it grow up the side of your coop. I am just not sure if mint is safe for chickens to eat or if they would even eat it

 

[DrakeMaiden]

Edible mint would be perfectly safe for chickens, but I'm not sure if they would find it palatable -- it's a little strong for most animals.

They would probably enjoy peppers, even the hot kind, as birds don't have "heat" receptors for hot peppers.

My ducks LOVE clover, and it is good for the soil. They also love heucheras and prefer those to almost any other garden plant.

 

[NJfarmer]

I should try and see if my chicken like mint. I didnt think they would. I would prob look for another vine plant that would grow on the side of my coop maybe a pea plant

 

[picklespickles]

re the thyme...i love the idea of it as a ground cover and their litte feet stirring up the herbal smell. you have really given me an interesting thought for the day........

 

[buc]

Crownvetch is a wonderful plant, it grows about 18' high, puts out a pretty little pink flower and spreads by vigorous rhizomes, and if allowed to go to seed will re-seed itself.