[OpiumEater]

I'm thinking of planting a bush in the hens run so they have some shade, and was wondering which would be a good choice.

Any ideas anyone?

[Laraine]

Our hens love hiding in the fruit bushes, (blackcurrants, redcurrants, and dwarf apple bush, then they can have a wee snack when the fruit is ripe!
Laraine

[Lindeggs]

I agree - anything with edible fruits or berries would be ideal.  When it's small you might need to fence it off to stop them digging it up, and even when it's quite big you may need to keep some bricks around its base.

I have some wormwood and tansy growing in different areas of the garden as they are supposed to be good for the chickens to nibble at as a natural wormer.  They are attractive herbs, but don't rely on them as your only form of worm control.

[OpiumEater]

Brilliant, thank you. We've got raspberry canes growing and the kids aren't eating them so I let the chickens have a dig and a nibble there. I might put one in their run!

Will definitely try the others, anything to make their time in their run more interesting 

[ChristyRose]

I have got allsorts in my chickens run.  Buddleia, cotoneaster, rhododendron, camelia, crab apple, hawthorn tree, birch tree, weeping willow (they love eating the leaves on this!!), hebe, honeysuckle.  Yes, you will need to put brick or large stones around the base of the plant or they will dig it up!!