Landscaping our New Chicken Run
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gardening,
Landscaping your chicken run with some pretty bushes and plants benefits both you and your chickens.
As excited as we were to move to Maine last summer and set down roots in New England again, I was sorry to leave our farm in Virginia.
There were so many nice features that had taken years to build/raise/grow/create and leaving them behind was tough.
One in particular was our landscaped chicken run.
There were so many nice features that had taken years to build/raise/grow/create and leaving them behind was tough.
One in particular was our landscaped chicken run.
As you know, it takes awhile to establish plants anywhere, but especially where there are chickens involved!
Lots of plants bit the dust over the years as I experimented with different ways to chicken-proof them while they were growing, but little by little I had managed to create a veritable oasis for my flock to enjoy.
Lots of plants bit the dust over the years as I experimented with different ways to chicken-proof them while they were growing, but little by little I had managed to create a veritable oasis for my flock to enjoy.
But now I am back to square one.
Our run, which was covered in lush, green grass last August is now a barren, dirt-filled area.
I am so happy that spring is finally here and I can get planting!
Our run, which was covered in lush, green grass last August is now a barren, dirt-filled area.
I am so happy that spring is finally here and I can get planting!
Landscaping our New Chicken Run
In addition to having a blank slate, I had moved 900 miles north - from zone 7 to zone 5 - but fortunately I was easily able to adapt what I had found worked in Virginia to similar plants that would work equally as well in Maine.
From my years of trial and error I had a plan in place, so I made my lists of a variety of chicken-friendly plants that would be perfect for our new run.
Planting bushes and shrubs in your run serves several purposes - the most important being providing your chickens shade and a wind block as well as a bit of a screen from the neighbors and any predators passing by.
Benefits for you include adding a little eye candy to your backyard as you enjoy being outside with your chickens or peeking out the kitchen window as you prepare dinner or wash dishes.
Some of my favorites that I had incorporated into our run in Virginia included rosebushes, butterfly bushes and juniper bushes, so I went those all of those again - just making sure I chose cold-hardy varieties.
I also added a few blueberry bushes to the lineup because after all, we're in Maine now!
Planting bushes and shrubs in your run serves several purposes - the most important being providing your chickens shade and a wind block as well as a bit of a screen from the neighbors and any predators passing by.
Benefits for you include adding a little eye candy to your backyard as you enjoy being outside with your chickens or peeking out the kitchen window as you prepare dinner or wash dishes.
Some of my favorites that I had incorporated into our run in Virginia included rosebushes, butterfly bushes and juniper bushes, so I went those all of those again - just making sure I chose cold-hardy varieties.
I also added a few blueberry bushes to the lineup because after all, we're in Maine now!
So here's what I selected:
Butterfly Bushes
They aren't toxic to the chickens, but my chickens have never been interested in eating their leaves, so they're my first choice to plant right inside the run.
Of course I did ring the base with stones to protect the roots and also caged the bushes. Until they get larger, it's a good idea to protect the plants.
Roses
Chickens love to eat roses and will stand under the bushes waiting for the petals to drop. They will also eat the rose hips if you break them in half with your fingernail.
Blueberries
Since we're in Maine, I decided to plant some blueberries.
The chickens love blueberries, so to protect the bushes, I opted to plant them on the outside of the run.
They'll still provide a nice wind block and also shield the chickens from predators' prying eyes - and I'll be sure to share some berries with the chickens!
The chickens love blueberries, so to protect the bushes, I opted to plant them on the outside of the run.
They'll still provide a nice wind block and also shield the chickens from predators' prying eyes - and I'll be sure to share some berries with the chickens!
Juniper
Juniper, and other evergreen bushes, are a great choice for plants that can be planted right inside the run, because chickens leave them alone and they stay green year round for a bit of color.
Again, I do ring the base with stones to protect the roots.
Again, I do ring the base with stones to protect the roots.
I leave the stones around the base of all the plants for the life of the plant so the chickens can't scratch up the roots, but I remove the cages once the plant is about two feet tall.
Even if the chickens eat the lower branches and leaves, the plant should still be fine at that point.
Stay tuned in the coming months for updated photos so you can see how the plants grow and mature and all integrate to provide shade and eye appeal to our new chicken run!
I think it will be well worth the wait to see these beautiful plants grow and bloom!
Even if the chickens eat the lower branches and leaves, the plant should still be fine at that point.
Stay tuned in the coming months for updated photos so you can see how the plants grow and mature and all integrate to provide shade and eye appeal to our new chicken run!
I think it will be well worth the wait to see these beautiful plants grow and bloom!
And if your run (or yard!) needs a bit of landscaping done, you'll want to pick up a copy of my book titled Gardening with Chickens (Voyageur Press) available now on Amazon.com.
