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Lantana are beautiful ANNUALS (you have to replant them each year) in MI and the scent of their foliage always reminded me of citrus and cat pottie entwined! ...Let me ask you this...Do you NEED a chicken 'run'? ...I used to raise bantum hens and never needed a run, I just let them loose in the back yard in the morning and at dusk they would go back home to the coop to roost and never had a problem. The occasional hawk was an issue but it was only occasional. We had a 25 acre open field behind our home but lived in a very rural NEW subdivision. Kinda depends upon if you own other pets or if you have other issues. I adored my chickens and to this day feel they are the best pets we have ever had!! Free range, even in your own yard yields such superior egg flavor!! Not to mention there is no run STINK cuz there is no run! Good luck to you!! If you have deer.......you won't have roses!
Lantana are beautiful ANNUALS (you have to replant them each year) in MI and the scent of their foliage always reminded me of citrus and cat pottie entwined! ...Let me ask you this...Do you NEED a chicken 'run'? ...I used to raise bantum hens and never needed a run, I just let them loose in the back yard in the morning and at dusk they would go back home to the coop to roost and never had a problem. The occasional hawk was an issue but it was only occasional. We had a 25 acre open field behind our home but lived in a very rural NEW subdivision. Kinda depends upon if you own other pets or if you have other issues. I adored my chickens and to this day feel they are the best pets we have ever had!! Free range, even in your own yard yields such superior egg flavor!! Not to mention there is no run STINK cuz there is no run! Good luck to you!! If you have deer.......you won't have roses!
I initially let my babies free range, but they unleashed destruction on my (and my neighbor's) garden beds. The girls seemed to enjoy kicking mulch onto paths. They scratched one of my long-coveted corydalis out of the ground, as well.
I had to finally reinforce their fencing and try to ensure they're confined to the coop area. I do let them out about an hour before dusk, though.
We need a run. If we let them out we have to wacth them or let the dogs hang out with them. Coyotes, raccoons, hawks, bald eagles, foxes, cats . . . .
We used to have a BA rooster who kept them safe, but he lost a fight with somehting and now he is gone. Of all the chickens he had the best personality and loved humans most, we were sad to lose him. The bantams get eaten by everything. At least they can fly a little.
You have my sympathy on the smell. A lot of moisture would certainly make it more smelly.
What you are describing sounds like Lantana which come in various combinations of colors:
I'm not sure what has you convinced that roses don't grow in MI as I have seen some absolutely lovely rose gardens there. They don't do well with "wet feet" and need mostly sunny conditions. Maybe this will inspire you to try them again: https://www.msu.edu/~phill195/sp/rosehome.htm
Yes. that is what i thought were called butterfly bushes.
My dad has roses. They bloom once a year occaisionally twice, they get few blooms. They die often. They do not grow much.
Yes. that is what i thought were called butterfly bushes.
My dad has roses. They bloom once a year occaisionally twice, they get few blooms. They die often. They do not grow much.
I don't think you are wanting roses,,,,but.... they have come a long way since your Dad's rose garden....."Knockout Roses" bloom abundantly all season long and are very hardy even in your MI area. I like to consider them more of a blooming shrub than just a rose bush! Still all in all, I like my first suggestion of going with herbs in your particular situation! Good Luck to you and keep us posted!
Does rosemary grow in your area? Lavender? Something with aromatic leaves so when the chickens brush up against them they will let the scent out. How about spreading lime all over the place? Wouldn't that knock the smell down?
You have my sympathy on the smell. A lot of moisture would certainly make it more smelly.
What you are describing sounds like Lantana which come in various combinations of colors:
I'm not sure what has you convinced that roses don't grow in MI as I have seen some absolutely lovely rose gardens there. They don't do well with "wet feet" and need mostly sunny conditions. Maybe this will inspire you to try them again: https://www.msu.edu/~phill195/sp/rosehome.htm
I've had lantanas in my garden, they has the distinct smell of cat urine when they get wet. Perhaps a gentle spray on them all day would perfume your yard with the fragrance of cat pee instead of chicken poop.
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