Chicken Fedge

Not sure if this should go here or the "Growies" forum, but here goes.

I've got 8 free range hens. I let them out of the coop when I go to work and lock them up in the evening when they go in. We live on approx 5 acres so they have plenty of room to roam. For the most part this works well, however they poop on our sidewalk. By now, everyone knows to check their feet before entering their house or a vehicle. I'd like to plant a short hedge as a natural barrier to keep them off the sidewalk. I don't expect it to be 100%, however I think it would work to discourage them.... I could be wrong.

I'd like an edible (for the chickens) hedge that's 1-2' tall and about a foot wide. One that would grow thick enough that they wouldn't easily sneak thru. I'd be looking to make it about 100-150' long, times 2, one for each side of the sidewalk. Edible isn't a requirement, but it would be a bonus. Also, a good portion of this would be in a spot where the soil stays wet, not so much stays wet, but water stands during rainy spells and eventually flows over the sidewalk.

Any thoughts? Thanks

I would choose something for YOU, as the chickens will eat any berry you would.

Blueberries are great if you don't want thorns. Raspberries, blackberries, elderberries--whatever you like.

Build mini-hugels to get them up out of the wet. And leave enough space that it won't grow into the sidewalk.

Howdy Tim, welcome to permies. If you could tell us more about your zone or area that you live it would help. ( you can put it in your profile below your name) I was thinking ,caragana or pea shrub. I grew a very dense hedge by pruning the plants by 1/3rd every year. They have thorns and fix nitrogen and have tons of seeds that I think the birds might like. You would have to plant them a foot or two away from the walk to give them room to grow and as R Scott says a hugel would be great too.

Richmond, VA - USDA Zone 7a

Thanks