Fragrant plants around Coop, safe for Chickens?

[jesirose]

This is more for outside the coop, but I was curious what plants I could plant around my coop that will have a pleasant smell and either won't be toxic to the chickens or they won't want to eat. Also is the citronella plant ok to put there?

 

[Capvin]

I am not sure if there is anything that grows that a chicken will not, at least, take a try at eating. Being in Texas I think you could grow jasmine. I grow it where I am and I believe our climates are similar. You could put it in the ground near the coop and it will grow like a vine all around if you want it like that. I keep mine in very large pots. Fairly easy to grow, also. You could also try bouganvilia. It does not have a strong smell, but they are very pretty and I think the thorns would keep the chickens from doing much damage.

As far as the citronella plant I know that they can be toxic to dogs. Citronella scent from the candle is toxic to birds but the cironella in the candles does not come from the citronella plant.

 

[joan1708]

I think jasmine may be toxic. I would do roses - zephryn druin - probably not spelled correctly. Is a thornless climbing rose that I've grown in Grand Prairie for several years. It stays pretty healthy. I hate thorns because I hate getting stuck. I'm not into painful gardening.

 

[Capvin]

There are some Jasmine plants that may have a mild toxic quality, however, the jasmine I plant is a vine called confederate or star jasmine and from all the literature I have looked at, it is not toxic and grows great in Texas

 

[jesirose]

Thanks for the ideas! We already have three rose bushes in our main yard and one has started to bloom. I'll look at the jasmine.

 

[3Unicorns]

I have grown star jasmine around my chicken coop fences for 20 years and never had a problem. I love that vine, ever green, non root invasive, drought tolerant and gorgeous.

 

[Equus17]

I think your best bet is to plant something that the chickens *can* eat, but grows fast and heartily enough that it is not bothered by them. I have various herbs planted around my yard, yes they peck at them, but they are good for them (and therefore good for me via the eggs!).

My favorite good-smelling one is the lemon verbena. They grow rather quickly to a decent sized bush, are drought tolerant, and you can even use them in cooking/teas/desserts for yourself! And they smell like lemon merengue pie!

 

[Anujin]

We're in Texas and we have lemongrass, mint and rosemary planted around the coop. The girls peck at the plants but don't destroy them.

 

[Folly's place]

Herbs; Anujin has the right idea. Catmint, any mints, oregano, thyme, rosemary, tarragon. Also maybe bee balm, and then many shrubs for looks, fruit, shade, and shelter. Mary

 

[WindRunner]

There is a jasmine variety called a false jasmine that is toxic to chickens. it has a bitter taste to chickens, so if they do get it in their mouths, they will spit it out. Most others won't cause any harm to chickens.