Re: Shrubs and Chickens (may be OT)

"Bitstreams" <bitstream7@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:95a3525e-920b-4a71-bb7d-1709ed2a4cb9@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The girls (just the two of them) have their own pen at the side of the
house, up against a hedge, but it's just bare earth otherwise.
They can (and do) get out over the picket fence - though it's a bit of
an effort for Blossom (a rather large Blue Orpington).
I want to plant some shrubs in their pen, just a couple of plants to
make it a little less barren - but I want to get something that they
won't eat all in the first day.
Any suggestions for hen-proof shrubs?

i've had that same problem :-) (still do, actually)

mine haven't (yet) demolished a pot of mint, although they do go at it when
they're a bit hungry - it's clearly not anywhere near their favourite,
though so they mostly leave it (they ate up all the oregano, though). the
other things in there they don't touch are the little gum trees; however,
you probably couldn't get gums to grow anyway where you are (?), so try
something else tough (thick, hard leaves), oily & aromatic (e.g. lavender)
as such things are pretty unpalatable to most species, & definitely
chickens. you might want to try thyme or rosemary bushes, although no
guarantees from me they'll be left alone because they're obviously edible.
again perhaps unhelpfully (sorry!), the other thing we have growing in their
yards that they absolutely won't eat is native grasses (australian). these
grasses are really dry, stringy & tough & you might be able to find
something equally stringy & tough locally. if it looks impossible to eat to
you, it just might be something they will leave alone too. :-)

my chooks have a lot of space for rummaging about, but they (& i) really do
prefer it when the ground is completely covered (with straw, old weeds,
leaves etc). it helps keep flies away from the poo due to turnover, but it
also means there are worms & bugs near the surface for them to find, and as
well as fun for them it's better for the humans visually; that "moonscape"
look is pretty depressing ;-)

chooks also like to be able to climb up things (somewhat depending on
species, & i have some actual flyers, but they all do it) - put in some big
branches or make them a structure for climbing up to purvey the scene. again
it's fun for them & more visually appealing for you. i also have a chair and
some tall stumps in there which are notionally for me to sit on when i am
having a quiet moment with the chooks, but it all helps to keep them amused
;-)

something i was interested by recently is that i put peas & beans growing
around the outside of their yard - they eat the pea plants if they can reach
them (bah) but won't eat the bean plants despite them being enticingly
close.
kylie


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