Suggestions Please

[rsvp]

Have a very large completely enclosed and electric fenced chicken run - netted roof is about 10/12 feet. It's situated in quite a shady part of the garden ( about 10 large fir trees including a yew, outside run plus other large trees so am thinking the ground is pretty much used up) Inside the run is a couple of ponds so plenty of water. Am looking to plant one or two chicken friendly bushes/small trees to give the chooks a bit of extra interest and perches. Be grateful for suggestions of suitable ones as my knowledge of trees/bushes is non-existent. Many thanks.

[EcclesCake]

Go for something with tough leathery leaves such as laurel, mahonia, skimmia or aucuba.

Anything tender and delicate will be eaten by the chooks.

[RATTER15]

Be wary of poisonous plants! https://poultrykeeper.com/general-chickens/poisonous-plants-chickens/

[rsvp]

Thanks for the answer Ratter - would have checked carefully whether or not it was poisonous as am very fond of my chooks but it's always good to be reminded. Wonder if any of the ones you suggest as toxic EcclesCake, am oiff to check - thank you

[rsvp]

EcclesCakes just for the record your suggestion 1,2 and 4 are within the laurel family and black laurel is listed as poisonous to chickens so will give them a miss - am still checking out the other one.

[EcclesCake]

Which is probably why mine don't eat it :-)

Chickens are pretty daft on the whole but they do have a remarkably good survival streak in them and tend to avoid what's really bad for them.

[rsvp]

And it lokks as though the skimmia is part of the japonica family (castor oil plant) which is toxic so will give them all a miss. Thank you for the effort though EC - stay well (and don't go eating any Japonica seeds!)

[EcclesCake]

No worries, I just looked around my garden to see what has survived the chooks and all those I mentioned are left alone by the girls, with the exception of the mahonia flowers which they devour as they drop off.

They have ravaged ivy, rhubarb and castor oil plants though and have shown no ill-effects.