Herbs For Chickens?

[AleRae78]

Do any of you feed herbs to your chickens? I have an overabundance in my garden and was just wondering if it's ok to give them or if they even enjoy them? Are there nutrition benefits?

 

[$pent_Hens]

I am new to keeping chickens, but I clip fresh catnip and put it in their nesting boxes to deter insects. And mine seem to love it. They don’t eat it though.

 

[AleRae78]

View attachment 1455461 I am new to keeping chickens, but I clip fresh catnip and put it in their nesting boxes to deter insects. And mine seem to love it. They don’t eat it though.

That's a great idea! We have lots of flies in the coop right now, no matter how much I clean. I gave them some sage yesterday on accident because they love clover and I was weeding that out of the garden to give them. Well, I clipped some sage to take inside and ended up throwing that into them on accident, but they gobbled it up! .

 

[$pent_Hens]

That's a great idea! We have lots of flies in the coop right now, no matter how much I clean. I gave them some sage yesterday on accident because they love clover and I was weeding that out of the garden to give them. Well, I clipped some sage to take inside and ended up throwing that into them on accident, but they gobbled it up! .

I will have to try sage also, even if mine won’t eat it, it would smell wonderful in there.

 

[Jemma Rider]

I read that sage and oregano help with intestinal health, and i used oregano oil when i thought they might have parasites and I've used it to help respiratory health in the past, not sure if it worked or not since it was a temporary fix until i could get antibiotics. Lavender repels pests and helps with relaxation so a lot of people put lavender in nesting boxes for hens, i drop a bit of lavender essential oils in my nest boxes once a week and i just feel like it helps the girls, it makes sense since people use lavender essential oils to ease anxiety, plus it makes the coop smell nice. Tyme helps respiratory health and can ward off unwanted insects, mint repels pests and i read it can stimulate egg laying, i have mint around to keep pests away and i think it works i drop torn up leaves around the food bins and the coop every few days since the mint grows on the other side of the yard. Basil and Tyme ward off pests and can be good for mucus membranes, i have Basil around for my rooster because he has allergies, and i think it makes the chicken yard smell nice.
That's the extent of my knowledge on chicken herbs, and those are the only ones i use, i know there are many more but I've never used most of them (though i use essential oils occasionally instead of the plants, for example lavender and oregano).

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Herbs are amazing for chickens and have numerous health benefits. Lavender and thyme are aromatics and are very soothing for laying hens. Mint helps repel insects. Parsley can help heal external skin issues and boosts the immune system. Marigolds add a darker, richer color to a chicken's beak, comb, eyes, wattles, and egg yolks.


I've written several articles on specific herbs in you're interested at all--they're linked below. But to answer you question; yes! Go for it! Your birds will love it.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/herbs-flowers-and-weeds-for-chickens.67493/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/nest-box-aromatherapy.66801/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ose-uses-in-chickens-youll-never-guess.67259/

 

[AleRae78]

Herbs are amazing for chickens and have numerous health benefits. Lavender and thyme are aromatics and are very soothing for laying hens. Mint helps repel insects. Parsley can help heal external skin issues and boosts the immune system. Marigolds add a darker, richer color to a chicken's beak, comb, eyes, wattles, and egg yolks.


I've written several articles on specific herbs in you're interested at all--they're linked below. But to answer you question; yes! Go for it! Your birds will love it.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/herbs-flowers-and-weeds-for-chickens.67493/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/nest-box-aromatherapy.66801/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ose-uses-in-chickens-youll-never-guess.67259/

Awesome link! Thanks for sharing this!

 

[AleRae78]

I read that sage and oregano help with intestinal health, and i used oregano oil when i thought they might have parasites and I've used it to help respiratory health in the past, not sure if it worked or not since it was a temporary fix until i could get antibiotics. Lavender repels pests and helps with relaxation so a lot of people put lavender in nesting boxes for hens, i drop a bit of lavender essential oils in my nest boxes once a week and i just feel like it helps the girls, it makes sense since people use lavender essential oils to ease anxiety, plus it makes the coop smell nice. Tyme helps respiratory health and can ward off unwanted insects, mint repels pests and i read it can stimulate egg laying, i have mint around to keep pests away and i think it works i drop torn up leaves around the food bins and the coop every few days since the mint grows on the other side of the yard. Basil and Tyme ward off pests and can be good for mucus membranes, i have Basil around for my rooster because he has allergies, and i think it makes the chicken yard smell nice.
That's the extent of my knowledge on chicken herbs, and those are the only ones i use, i know there are many more but I've never used most of them (though i use essential oils occasionally instead of the plants, for example lavender and oregano).

 

[AleRae78]

Good to know about the lavender! I love the smell of that!

 

[$pent_Hens]

I read that sage and oregano help with intestinal health, and i used oregano oil when i thought they might have parasites and I've used it to help respiratory health in the past, not sure if it worked or not since it was a temporary fix until i could get antibiotics. Lavender repels pests and helps with relaxation so a lot of people put lavender in nesting boxes for hens, i drop a bit of lavender essential oils in my nest boxes once a week and i just feel like it helps the girls, it makes sense since people use lavender essential oils to ease anxiety, plus it makes the coop smell nice. Tyme helps respiratory health and can ward off unwanted insects, mint repels pests and i read it can stimulate egg laying, i have mint around to keep pests away and i think it works i drop torn up leaves around the food bins and the coop every few days since the mint grows on the other side of the yard. Basil and Tyme ward off pests and can be good for mucus membranes, i have Basil around for my rooster because he has allergies, and i think it makes the chicken yard smell nice.
That's the extent of my knowledge on chicken herbs, and those are the only ones i use, i know there are many more but I've never used most of them (though i use essential oils occasionally instead of the plants, for example lavender and oregano).

I have toyed with the idea of adding one drop of oregano EO to their water (2 gallons) every once in a while but never thought to put a drop in the nesting boxes. Thanks for the post, I will add lavender EO to their coop today.

I have lavender, marigolds , peppermint and lemongrass planted around the coop in an effort to keep insects at bay. I think it really does help and either way it sure smells good LOL