Birds Herbs to plant for chickens

Vicki

Girls With Guns Member
I grabbed this information yesterday and although I already use many herbs with my chickens, some of these suggestions I didn't know. Thought I'd share the information with the rest of you.

Chicken_plants-gif_MINT.gif

Chicken plants.JPG


Herbs to keep the flock healthy.

Comfrey: This perennial plant is rich in nutrients like calcium, potassium, and protein. It can help encourage healthy laying, too.

Thyme: Thyme not only smells good, but it also has significant antibacterial and antibiotic properties. It can also improve the respiratory health of your birds.

Sage: Sage is an excellent herb for supporting the overall health of your chickens. It serves as an antioxidant and can even help to prevent salmonella!

Oregano: Oregano is often considered a “miracle herb” because it has so many benefits. Not only can it help fight e.coli, salmonella, coccidiosis, and avian flu, but it is being studied as a broad-spectrum natural antibiotic on large poultry farms.

Wormwood: Wormwood is a phenomenal plant when it comes to repelling external parasites. It can keep airborne pests away, too.

Rosemary: Rosemary also has medicinal benefits and produces a strong aroma that can keep insects away.

Lavender: A natural insect repellent, you will likely see fewer pests around if you plant lavender for your chickens. It can also calm your birds and freshen the air near your coop.

Fennel: Fennel is a gorgeous plant that not only produces seeds and foliage that support your chickens’ overall health, but also put on elegant lacy pods of yellow flowers. These flowers attract beneficial pollinators and provide another food source for your chickens – bugs!

Mint: Mint is a great insecticide and also can keep rodents away. Any of the mint varieties (including catmint, peppermint, and spearmint) can be fed to chickens.

Nettles: Chicken sometimes won’t touch nettles growing in the chicken run if they’re too prickly, but you can always boil them down to feed to your chickens afterward.

Lemon balm: Lemon balm can eliminate stress among the flock and even help keep rodents away.

Parsley: Parsley has a ton of vitamins and minerals (and is even a rare source of the much-needed vitamin K). It’s also a great stimulant for laying hens.

Dill: Dill helps to prevent respiratory illnesses and can be fed fresh or dried – or you can simply let the plants grow wild in your chicken yard.

Basil: Basil is a popular culinary herb, but it’s also a great one to feed to chickens. It has powerful antibacterial properties that can help keep disease away.
 

Samuel Adams

Has No Life - Lives on TB
We use nettle and dandelions extensively for our penned up summer birds.

Any old five gallon bucket of garden weeds seems to put them in a seriously festive frame....

The nettle sports formic acid as the irritant, and the brief wilt you describe somehow neutralizes most of that acid.

For kitchen use, we either dry the nettle down completely or pan wilt over heat.

I know from experience that the taste buds still detect a bit of a sting, otherwise.
 
Top