There is something about chickens & gardens that works well together. Like peanut butter & jam, or carrots & peas, chickens & gardens go hand in hand. Chickens are not only a gardener's best friend, supplying free fertilizer & tilling, but a well-tended garden can also provide feed for your flock.
The number of plants suitable for growing near chickens is immense, and there are more which will benefit the health of your chickens. Find out which plants are the most chicken-friendly and how to grow a chicken-friendly garden below.
When you provide plants to your chickens - or let them graze directly in your yard - add a few new plants at a time.
Chickens, for instance, will eat newly sown seeds & uproot young, delicate seedlings. Freshly tilled soil is also used for dust baths. Occasionally, chickens will eat slightly unripe fruit as well as remove leaves & flowers from plants.
Therefore, you should be mindful about letting your birds graze in the garden. You should not allow your chickens to touch your plants until they are large enough that they can't easily destroy them.
In order to keep your chickens safe, you should build a strong fence around the garden. You should have a fence at least three feet high, and remember that some flighty birds can fly over even a short fence.
The best way to get the most value for your money is to buy a simple poultry fence and build it yourself.
By doing this, you will keep out slugs, grasshoppers, and other pesky pests, as well as give your chickens access to all the treats growing around your garden.
There is also the option of raised beds. A super-tasty-looking slug is usually what attracts smaller chickens into the raised beds - and then they hop back down afterward. Depending on the type of chicken, this strategy may work, but it is definitely worth a try.
All the healthy carbs your chickens require are contained in its bright seeds and lush leaves.
After chickens step over it & nibble at it, it recovers easily. Additionally, it is a good way to supplement their diet.
After the flowers have bloomed, cut off their heads, let them dry & feed the seeds to your birds. Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and healthy fats make them a good source of nutrition.
Planting usually takes place in the fall. So you need to make sure it is ripe before your chickens eat it.
An entire gourd can take a chicken days to devour! In hot weather, feeding chickens cucumbers has the advantage of hydrating them, as well as reducing intestinal worm infestations.
Chickens usually won't nibble on the cobs, but they'll eat the kernels dried or straight from the ear.
Summer is its best growing season, and it prefers moist soil & partial shade.
Blackberries, blueberries & raspberries are all good berries to feed chickens, but strawberries are particularly tasty. Usually, they bloom during spring and grow everywhere.
Chickens will devour the entire plant, but their preference will be for the ripe & juicy berries.
The leafy growth of Swiss chard easily satisfies chicken appetites. Most of the time, they peck at the leaves rather than eat the stem. Therefore, several swiss chard crops can often be grown in a chicken run. You should use caution when feeding greens like spinach & Swiss chard: both contain oxalic acid, that may cause a calcium deficiency if consumed in large quantities. Feeding them in moderation is therefore recommended.
Kale is also a popular choice. You can feed it to your chickens because it is rich in vitamin A, calcium, and other nutrients. During the growing season, it produces several crops. It grows best in cooler weather.
Mustard greens thrive in cool environments, just like kale. It is a very nutritious green that attracts bugs which your chickens will also enjoy eating.
Feeding your chickens beans is also an option, but avoid uncooked dried beans because they contain hemagglutinin which can be toxic to them.
As with cucumbers, squash, melons, and zucchini, pumpkins belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. Besides being great sources of nutrients and fluids, these vegetables are also natural dewormers.
It is also possible to cure and store most of them over the winter!
Growing watermelon is a good choice for chickens. The seeds, rind, pulp, and all parts of watermelons will be devoured by your chickens if you decide to grow them in the garden.
They sometimes have difficulty penetrating the rind of the fruit, so you may have to break it open for them.
They are usually able to stay away from toxic plants due to their intuition, but this isn't always the case. Some chickens are always exceptions to this rule.
Avoid planting these plants around a chicken coop or chicken run, or if your chickens have unrestricted access to your entire property's plants:
By eating chicken-friendly plants, free-range chickens not only benefit from improved nutrient absorption but also contribute to your garden by fertilizing & tilling it.
By doing this, you can accomplish more in less space - and that's a win-win situation for everyone.
Further Reading:
The number of plants suitable for growing near chickens is immense, and there are more which will benefit the health of your chickens. Find out which plants are the most chicken-friendly and how to grow a chicken-friendly garden below.
How to Grow a Chicken-Friendly Garden
Generally, chickens benefit from many plants which are good for us. Introduce new plants only after your chickens have become accustomed to grazing on grass if they currently consume the commercial feed.When you provide plants to your chickens - or let them graze directly in your yard - add a few new plants at a time.
Prepare for unwelcome foraging behaviors
Bear in mind that if you allow your chickens to graze unrestricted in your garden rather than growing plants & putting them in a chicken run - you'll have to bear with some annoying behaviors.Chickens, for instance, will eat newly sown seeds & uproot young, delicate seedlings. Freshly tilled soil is also used for dust baths. Occasionally, chickens will eat slightly unripe fruit as well as remove leaves & flowers from plants.
Therefore, you should be mindful about letting your birds graze in the garden. You should not allow your chickens to touch your plants until they are large enough that they can't easily destroy them.
Put Up a fence
A chicken's free grazing sounds great - until a predator sees them and strikes, or your birds decide to check out the neighbor's yard as well.In order to keep your chickens safe, you should build a strong fence around the garden. You should have a fence at least three feet high, and remember that some flighty birds can fly over even a short fence.
The best way to get the most value for your money is to buy a simple poultry fence and build it yourself.
Raised beds or separate runs are two options to consider
You can build a chicken run along the outer perimeter of your garden if you cannot allow your chickens unrestricted access to your garden.By doing this, you will keep out slugs, grasshoppers, and other pesky pests, as well as give your chickens access to all the treats growing around your garden.
There is also the option of raised beds. A super-tasty-looking slug is usually what attracts smaller chickens into the raised beds - and then they hop back down afterward. Depending on the type of chicken, this strategy may work, but it is definitely worth a try.
Here are 15 plants best for chickens
The following 15 plants are chicken-friendly:1. Herbs
Many herbs have powerful medicinal properties, so you can grow them for your flock. These herbs will not only enhance your chickens' health but will also make them happier.- Comfrey: There are many nutrients in comfrey, including protein, calcium, and potassium. Additionally, it can promote healthy laying behavior.
- Thyme: This herb has good antibiotic & antibacterial properties in addition to having a pleasant smell. Furthermore, thyme can benefit the respiratory system of your chickens.
- Sage: This is a powerful herb that can benefit your chickens' overall health. In addition to being an antioxidant, it is also capable of preventing salmonella.
- Oregano: There are many benefits associated with oregano, which is often called a miracle herb. While helping control Salmonella, E Coli, avian flu, and coccidiosis, it is also being researched as a natural broad-spectrum antibiotic.
- Wormwood: There is no better plant to repel external parasites than Wormwood. Aside from that, it can protect against airborne pests.
- Rosemary: Rosemary has medicinal properties as well as a strong fragrance that keeps insects at bay.
- Lavender: Using lavender works as an insect repellent naturally. It is likely that you will very few pests if you plant lavender for your birds. In addition to calming your birds, it can freshen up the air around the coop.
- Fennel: Besides producing seeds and leaves that promote chicken health, fennel also bears elegant, lacy yellow flowers that add a touch of elegance to your garden. These flowers will not only attract great pollinators, they will also provide chickens with food - bugs!
- Mint: This herb is a good insecticide, and it can also keep rodents at bay. Chickens can eat mint in all its varieties (such as spearmint, catmint, and peppermint).
- Nettles: In the coop, nettles are sometimes too prickly for the chickens to touch, but you can boil them then feed them to them after boiling.
- Lemon Balm: In addition to relieving stress in the flock, lemon balm can also prevent rodents from entering.
- Parsley: There are a lot of vitamins & minerals in parsley (including vitamin K, which is rare). Laying hens also benefit from it.
- Dill: You can feed dried or fresh dill to your chickens, or you can let them grow wild in your yard. Dill prevents respiratory diseases and can be fed fresh or dried.
- Basil: This is not only a great herb for cooking, but it is also an excellent food for chickens. Disease prevention can be attributed to its antibacterial properties.
2. Amaranth
Amaranth is a grain that produces beautiful spikes of flowers up to 10in high. Purple & green leaves adorn its large edible leaves, giving your chicken garden both a stunning appearance and high functionality.All the healthy carbs your chickens require are contained in its bright seeds and lush leaves.
3. White Clover
The white clover makes for a great living mulch plant, which is why it can be grown near your chicken coop as a ground cover. In addition to its high protein content, white clover is also easy to walk on.After chickens step over it & nibble at it, it recovers easily. Additionally, it is a good way to supplement their diet.
4. Sunflowers
Chickens enjoy nibbling on sunflowers. These seeds are not only tasty, but they also provide your birds with nutrients. Moreover, sunflowers are relatively hardy, attractive, and low-maintenance. Sunflowers can be grown directly in chicken runs or far from them so their seed heads have time to fully develop.After the flowers have bloomed, cut off their heads, let them dry & feed the seeds to your birds. Omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and healthy fats make them a good source of nutrition.
5. Garlic
Garlic is among the best things you can give your chickens. Aside from boosting the immune system, it also fights parasites on the inside and outside. If you want to feed it to your chickens, just chop it up and give it to them, or just let them nibble on the bulbs and stems.Planting usually takes place in the fall. So you need to make sure it is ripe before your chickens eat it.
6. Cucumbers
Cucumbers are hard to kill. It's not just the vines that chickens will eat (although they might shy away from some bristlier varieties), but also the fruit, as well.An entire gourd can take a chicken days to devour! In hot weather, feeding chickens cucumbers has the advantage of hydrating them, as well as reducing intestinal worm infestations.
7. Corn
It may be beneficial to grow corn specifically for your chickens since corn is in most chicken feed. It is usually best to grow sweet corn in your garden for your birds, so you may want to plant a few rows.Chickens usually won't nibble on the cobs, but they'll eat the kernels dried or straight from the ear.
8. Dandelions
Dandelions aren't something most people enjoy, but chickens do. Don't apply herbicides yet. Growing or letting this nutritious weed grow wild can be done in almost every part of the country.Summer is its best growing season, and it prefers moist soil & partial shade.
9. Beets
It is a wise move to grow beets for chickens. They produce a harvest in only a few weeks, ripen quickly, and are very versatile. The roots as well as the leafy greens are safe for your chickens to consume. All of your birds will eat it because it cleanses their blood and digestive tracts.10. Berries
It is no secret that chickens are fond of berries, just as humans are. Although berries are relatively expensive to buy regularly, berry bushes are amazingly easy to grow. Your property may already have some wild berry shrubs growing.Blackberries, blueberries & raspberries are all good berries to feed chickens, but strawberries are particularly tasty. Usually, they bloom during spring and grow everywhere.
Chickens will devour the entire plant, but their preference will be for the ripe & juicy berries.
11. Leafy Greens
All types of leafy greens are very healthy for chickens, and they will appreciate them greatly. Most leafy greens can be harvested throughout the growing season. What would be some great options? Leafy greens such as Swiss chard, collards, kale, romaine lettuces, cabbages, and spinach.The leafy growth of Swiss chard easily satisfies chicken appetites. Most of the time, they peck at the leaves rather than eat the stem. Therefore, several swiss chard crops can often be grown in a chicken run. You should use caution when feeding greens like spinach & Swiss chard: both contain oxalic acid, that may cause a calcium deficiency if consumed in large quantities. Feeding them in moderation is therefore recommended.
Kale is also a popular choice. You can feed it to your chickens because it is rich in vitamin A, calcium, and other nutrients. During the growing season, it produces several crops. It grows best in cooler weather.
Mustard greens thrive in cool environments, just like kale. It is a very nutritious green that attracts bugs which your chickens will also enjoy eating.
12. Peas
Peas are a favorite of chickens, and because they ripen early spring, they provide a tasty treat when there isn't much else for them to eat. For strong & healthy bones, your chickens need niacin, which is found in peas.Feeding your chickens beans is also an option, but avoid uncooked dried beans because they contain hemagglutinin which can be toxic to them.
13. Pumpkins
If you cut open the pumpkin first, chickens will eat any part of it. There are many health benefits associated with pumpkin seeds, as well as the pulp and shell. Additionally, pumpkins are a good source of antioxidants & beta-carotene, so your chickens will love them.As with cucumbers, squash, melons, and zucchini, pumpkins belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. Besides being great sources of nutrients and fluids, these vegetables are also natural dewormers.
It is also possible to cure and store most of them over the winter!
14. Nasturtium
It is easy to grow Nasturtiums from seed, and they not only beautify your chicken run, but they also provide you and your flock with a host of benefits. The seeds & flowers of these plants are enjoyed by chickens, who also use them as natural dewormers.15. Melons
Melons are a favorite food of chickens. Your flock can be fed watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews, and many other kinds of melons. In the warmer summer months, your chickens will benefit from the fluid provided by these fruits.Growing watermelon is a good choice for chickens. The seeds, rind, pulp, and all parts of watermelons will be devoured by your chickens if you decide to grow them in the garden.
They sometimes have difficulty penetrating the rind of the fruit, so you may have to break it open for them.
Which Plants Should I Not Grow Near Chickens?
There are a few plants that you need to be careful about planting near your chickens, even though they can tolerate and even benefit from almost all plants. The good news is that chickens know which plants to avoid and which are toxic to them.They are usually able to stay away from toxic plants due to their intuition, but this isn't always the case. Some chickens are always exceptions to this rule.
Avoid planting these plants around a chicken coop or chicken run, or if your chickens have unrestricted access to your entire property's plants:
- Azalea
- Foxgloves
- Hydrangeas
- Rhododendrons
- Nightshade plants (incl. tomatoes, eggplants & potatoes)
- Rhubarb
- Daphne
- Onions (may affect the taste of eggs)
- Oak (the acorns are poisonous)
- Avocado
- Daffodils
- Poison Ivy
- Amaryllis
- Honeysuckle
- Tulips
What are the benefits of growing plants near the coop for chickens?
Do you still have doubts about planting a chicken garden? You can grow chicken-friendly plants for the following reasons.Diverse nutrient sources
Feeding your flock chicken-friendly plants will result in a higher intake of nutritious foods than feeding only commercial feed. Although many commercial chicken feed mixes include all the nutrients chickens require, nothing beats Mother Nature's natural feed.Debugging
It is no secret that chickens enjoy eating bugs. Their diet includes larvae, adults, and even the eggs - all stages of the bug's life cycle. Not only will you get rid of pest problems by letting your chickens graze on pest-infested plants, but you will also give them a healthy treat in the process.Mulching
When you put chickens in an area that must be mulched, they will gladly spread the mulch while they search for bugs while churning up the soil.Soil tilling
You do not have to dig up the soil for hours before planting chicken-friendly plants! Put the chickens to work instead. It won't take long for your chickens to till for you if you leave them in one place long enough.Fertilizing
Putting chickens on pasture or in the garden will naturally fertilize the soil with their droppings, which are great fertilizers. This is best done a few months before planting, so your plants won't be burned by the high nitrogen level.Composting
Make sure your chickens can access your compost pile if you have one. By scratching the compost, your chickens will aerate it and turn over bugs and other microorganisms. They oxygenate the pile while also adding nitrogen, which it needs.Conclusion
Gardeners and agricultural experts advocate permaculture principles, which suggest that every element in your yard should serve a purpose. In the garden, this is especially true!By eating chicken-friendly plants, free-range chickens not only benefit from improved nutrient absorption but also contribute to your garden by fertilizing & tilling it.
By doing this, you can accomplish more in less space - and that's a win-win situation for everyone.
Further Reading:
