Horehound and chickens

[JesterLady]

I have an herb garden with a good patch of horehound that is threatening to take over it's neighbors. Since I'm going to have to cut this herb back anyway and since I already have a pretty good supply of dried horehound, as well, I wanted to see if this herb was safe to throw in my chicken coop and let the girls have at it. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[The Golden Egg5]

You could probably put it in the best boxes and coop to keep any flies away. They may not eat it, but it would still serve a purpose. I do this with the mint that is taking over my backyard and I has really helped. Smells wonderful too. I don't think it would have any negative effects on them, and if it did, they wouldn't eat it.

 

[FlockVillemaire]

You could probably put it in the best boxes and coop to keep any flies away. They may not eat it, but it would still serve a purpose. I do this with the mint that is taking over my backyard and I has really helped. Smells wonderful too. I don't think it would have any negative effects on them, and if it did, they wouldn't eat it.

Thanks for the anti-fly info! I'm currently looking to add this

Marrubium vulgare, "Horehound"​

both around the coop (as you recommend) and also mixed in my moderate winter/ long hot & dry summer zone 9 NorCal chicken pasture! Unlike lemongrass, this survives happily unprotected-from-frost/freeze PERENNIAL (zones 3-9) in my just barely freezing/long, very hot-dry summer zone 9! But I hope they eat it too! (My free ranging flock just found my thriving Lemon Balm patch, so I don't know yet if I'll need to fence them out?)

[some interesting bits I found from seedsneeds.com sales page:
"It features heavily in legends and folklore, and is associated with lightning, gnomes, elves, pixies, and fairies. It was reputed to have anti-magical properties.

It is very hardy and grows best in dry, poor soil. It grows readily in over-grazed areas, wastelands, and disturbed areas throughout New England. The only care it needs once established is weeding. The flowers turn into clinging seeds that will stick to clothing and fur to enable their spread." Are feathers safer?

Other source: winter sow or cold stratify : wrap the seeds in a damp paper towel and seal them in a plastic bag. Place the plastic bag in the refrigerator for two months.
*can start inside or outside @ depth of 1/16”
*full sunlight
*prefers >75 F
*germinates 14-21 days
*12" apart & 12 -24" tall
*active compound that's found in its leaves have antimicrobial, antifungal, cytotoxic and antidiabetic properties in laboratory plates. It also has culinary uses.

*lots more info but no mention of flies, only the anti-magical mythology?!

Still, I had to look elsewhere for "grows best in USDA zones 3-9" and cold stratification!