Shade tree recommendations that might provide food, treats for chickens?

Posted by Beth Kramer on March 17, 2011 at 1:45pm

Hello all, I am wanting to plant a large shade tree on the south side of the house to help give shade to my chickens in the summer. I would like a desert adapted fast growing tree. It would be specially nice if it gave seeds, fruit etc.....that the chickens could eat. I want to avoid anaything that drops poisoness berries etc....Any suggestions??

 

Thanks

 

 

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Replies

  • Jeff Adams March 17, 2011 at 10:03pm

    Sorry to overinundate, but if you did have interest, look up "morus mircrophylla native (or Texas) Mulberry Tree".  Again--they grow naturally in Arizona; edible fruit & attractive, not a heavy water user, small leaves w/fall color, if I recall correctly...

    • Beth Kramer > Jeff Adams March 18, 2011 at 7:59am
      Thanks for the info   :)
    • Beth Kramer > Jeff Adams March 17, 2011 at 10:27pm

      Thanks for the suggestions.....we have a ginormous Mulberry in the backyard that gives beautiful shade (unfortunatly no where near the chickens)....but no edible fruit  :(     The birds who live in it still poop purple though?

      I didn't realize their was a native mulberry....thank you so much for the info.

  • Jeff Adams March 17, 2011 at 9:53pm
    ps... the "native" mulberry is not necessarily a large tree.  Maybe will get 25 tall by 20 wide eventually.  Almost in the range of citrus, though, and at least the size of a pomegranite...mine is still young--but love it !!
  • Jeff Adams March 17, 2011 at 9:51pm
    Love all these suggestions but I might suggest researching a native mulberry tree if you want something few people have but is somewhat native (goes by several different names; endemic more throughout areas of Southern Arizona thru Texas).  The have lovely maple shaped leaves (smaller; not like the more common but non-native mulberry you see everywhere; much nicer IMO).  I have a female, which gets tasty small round red edible berries.  They can potentially stain (like pomegranite, etc.) but birds also love them & think this tree would be great in a lawn or yard area; provided you plant it up an inch & give it good drainage & a mulch layer.  I have seen them at several Arizona nurseries but not common up here.  I got mine from Jim at Desert Survivors in Tucson...start it early to give it a break on heat but if you plant it & care for it right w/o reflective sun, they do great here !
  • Meg Levinson March 17, 2011 at 4:52pm
    Morings trees.  Fast growing, edible foliage & seed pods, drought tolerant.
    • Catherine, The Herb Lady > Meg Levinson March 18, 2011 at 6:01am

      Hi Meg,

      I also had not heard of the Moring trees - just looked it up on Wikipedia - amazing sounding plant.

       

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moringa_oleifera

    • Meg Levinson > Meg Levinson March 17, 2011 at 9:22pm
      Thanks  Chris for reminding me of Pomegranates! Wonderful idea!
    • Beth Kramer > Meg Levinson March 17, 2011 at 5:29pm
      Wow Meg, I just read up on this tree....I had never heard of it before. It's amazing that virtually all of it is edible & usable. Thank you for the recommendation !!!
    • Meg Levinson > Beth Kramer March 17, 2011 at 9:23pm
      Hey Beth, I forgot to mention how incredibly nutritious it is.  I'll bet it'd be good in a salad with pom seeds!
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