herbal medicine garden for chickens

[Miss Lydia]

I have seen the scented geranium but not citronella for sale are they one and the same?

Suppose to repel mosquitos

 

[Leahs Mom]

I had some wind barrel planters that needed some love, so some got planted, and one became a new dirt bath. Oh, the girls and I had the most delightful day!

@thewatsonfarm
I LOVE the idea of seeing my birds dust bathing in a wine barrel!!!

I have seen the scented geranium but not citronella for sale are they one and the same?

Suppose to repel mosquitos

Yes, the citronella is a one of the geramium plants. Just learned that this year. I have a large planter just outside the barn door with citronella planted there in an attempt to stop flies.

For some reason flies have never been a big problem for me. It could be the deep litter taking care of that problem as the poos don't just lay around on the surface but get composted in with the wood chips and shavings especially after a rain. I put my indoor shavings out into either one of the outdoor kennel pen/runs or right onto the ground in their little wooded area to make a nice deep litter.

 

[squirtsmomma]

These posts are fascinating. Wait till I tell my husband I want to plant the chickens their own medicinal herb garden. More research first so I have all my facts straight.

 

[The Hen Hut]

My hens seem to love the Hosta's growing in my garden now...they watched the Pigeons stripping them last week leaving only just the stalks, and have decided that maybe they should try it too...I've had these Bantums for years and can honestly say they have never done this before! I always buy a mix of dried herbs for them here in the U.K called Vermex, in pellet form or liquid....when they hear the tin coming out of the store they rush over (without me having to call them) and usually fall over each other trying to get the best position... We have not had much rain here this spring so I suppose the lush leaves of the Hosta are too much of a temptation hahaha!!

 

[thewatsonfarm]

@thewatsonfarm
I LOVE the idea of seeing my birds dust bathing in a wine barrel!!!


Leahs Mom -- the girls enjoyed the wine barrel dirt bath tremendously. And I had one where the bottom rotted out, so I made that into a cozy little resting spot in the yard.

 

[Leahs Mom]

My hens seem to love the Hosta's growing in my garden now...they watched the Pigeons stripping them last week leaving only just the stalks, and have decided that maybe they should try it too...I've had these Bantums for years and can honestly say they have never done this before! I always buy a mix of dried herbs for them here in the U.K called Vermex, in pellet form or liquid....when they hear the tin coming out of the store they rush over (without me having to call them) and usually fall over each other trying to get the best position... We have not had much rain here this spring so I suppose the lush leaves of the Hosta are too much of a temptation hahaha!!

I have a book called: Backyard Foraging that discusses how to use the hosta sprouts for eating. I don't have any where my chickens can get to them but I'll bet they'd eat them if they have the chance.

Do you have a link for the vermex pellets? Are you saying that your birds love them?

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thank you for the photos!!!!! Love it

 

[mobius]

I can't remember if mine ate the nasturtium down to a nub I haven't bought any in a few years. It's so pretty though it's on my list this year. I'll put it in hanging basket and offer to them so I can control how much they eat. I have to do that with the grass we planted for the geese. My dh made raised beds up in their enclosure we put wire over top so the chickens couldn't scratch it up and then I had to put up plastic fencing and make a gate so I can control how often they can go in and eat it. Our soil is so rocky in the mountains we can't get grass to grow even if we didn't have chickens. I am not a grass fan anyway. What we won't do for our birds.

You have described my soil situation exactly (minus the comfrey ). I too am not a grass fan although I did plant some where the chickens can't get it...as well as some clover whichI think is nicer. The "wire over top" boxes are great in this situation and mine run to get on them the minute I let them out, bypassing their feed!

Oh, and wine barrel! Brilliant! Saw some a couple days ago at big box hardware store for $10.

 

[Miss Lydia]

You should have snatched up those wine barrels at 10.00 they are way more expensive than that around here.

 

[ChickEchick]

This is all fabulous...... I will be planting a covered herb garden and hanging Vanilla scented Christmas trees in my little chicken yard ASAP!