Healthy Herb Garden Chickens Will Love – the top 16 herbs for chickens! Herbs and herbal health aren’t just for us; they are great for
our chickens too. We can create an herb garden chickens will enjoy and promote natural health and wellness at the same time. There are certainly more than 16 herbs to choose from, and each with special properties just for your chickens. If you want a more in depth list and detailed information, I would recommend reading Fresh Eggs Daily and Gardening With Chickens by Lisa Steele. These books should be on every chicken owner’s bookshelf!
So what herbs should you consider? These are herbs I have found beneficial in my herb garden for my chickens. If you don’t have the space to grow these fresh, dried herbs are another great alternative (though mine won’t always eat the dried herbs). Just remember to stick to organic growing and purchasing practices for your hens and roosters.
Chamomile – Chamomile is a wonderful herb for chickens. It can be used to fight lice, mites and fleas. It is also can be used as an antiseptic, natural antibiotic and is calming for chickens as well as people.
Chives – Chives are an iron source for chickens as well as digestion aid.
Cilantro – Cilantro isn’t just for your guacamole it can help to build strong bones, good for vision and a fungicide.
Dandelion – If you’re like me, you won’t have to plant dandelion! Dandelion can stimulate laying and is good for the overal health of a chicken.
Dill – Dill helps with appetite, digestion, respiratory health and is an antioxidant.
Garlic – I think garlic has amazing health benefits all the way around. In herb garden chickens will benefit in eating garlic as a laying stimulant, to improve circulation, respiration and can relieve diarrhea. Garlic is also a natural antibiotic!
Lavender – Besides being beautiful and smelling wonderful, lavender can reduce chicken stress and repel insects (great in nests!).
Lemon Balm – Your herb garden chickens also could use lemon balm to fight rodents and other pests as well as reduce stress. It is also antibacterial.
Marigold – Marigolds are wonderful companion plants for your garden but they can also help your hens lay more orange yolks, keep bugs away and promote healthy beaks and feet.
Mints of all kinds – Mints should be part of your herb garden chickens use because of their ability to keep bugs and rodents at bay, improve eggshell quality, and increase egg production!
Nasturtium – This lovely little flower isn’t exactly an herb but it definitely should be considered for your coop area and for your hens. Nasturtium can repel bugs, work as a natural chicken wormer and help with egg production. It is also antiseptic and antibiotic.
Oregano – Oregano is one of the most powerful antibiotics we can grow! Given as a preventative it can strengthen the chicken immune systems; but it can help us to battle coccidia, salmonella, avian flu, and e-coli!
Parsley – Parsley is really an underrated herb. It is high in vitamins A, B, C as well as calcium and iron.
Rosemary – Rosemary is another herb that bugs detest but it can also be used as a pain reliever and to aid in respiratory health.
Sage – Sage is an antioxidant, anti-parasitic and good for the overall health of our birds. It may also aid in combating salmonella.
Thyme – Lastly, thyme in our herb gardens chickens need, will promote healthy respiratory systems, fight parasites and stimulate laying,
Well there you have it, healthy herb garden chickens will love…and you will too! But don’t stop here – check out my article on feeding chickens naturally for tastier and healthier eggs!
Other articles you might like:
- Reasons Your Hens May Not Be Laying
- Gifts for Chicken People
- Chickens in the Garden
- Chickens that Lay Colored Eggs