Chickens typically know what foods are healthy for them to consume, but when it comes to my garden, I prefer to select edible flowers.
While we have azaleas, lupine, and other perennial plants that could be an issue if they ate them, I don’t worry all that much because our flock has so much other food to eat when they’re out roaming the yard. In general, chickens know what’s harmful for them and will remain clear.
I do, however, tend to choose edible annual flowers when picking those to intentionally plant each spring. I think it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Our chickens occasionally stray into the flower beds, but they generally seem more interested in sifting through the soil in search of worms and bugs, sparing the flowers.
Since they are annuals towards the end of the season, I don’t mind if the hens choose to eat them.
What did I decide to grow this spring, then? Purple salvia, Proven Winners Royal Velvet petunias, and African marigolds. All of it is chicken and human-edible. Petunias bloom nonstop throughout the summer, salvia is a favorite of bees, and the marigolds planted along the garden’s edge help keep bugs out.
For the back porch, we also purchased some wax begonias in pots. Again, it is both human and animal-edible. (And you can rely on the Proven Winners brand since their plants are farmed by family-owned farms without the use of neonicotinoids, which can harm bees and other pollinators.)
Additionally, I grew some Calibrachoa. Calibrachoa belongs to the nightshade family of plants despite having a striking resemblance to petunias in appearance. This family also includes white potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers, all of which can be poisonous to hens.
The Calibrachoa were then placed in window boxes that were raised above the ground and in an area where hens don’t usually stray.
Before you go shopping for your spring annuals, refer to the lists of additional edible flower varieties I’ve included below. Also, keep in mind that all culinary herbs, such as lavender, pineapple sage, thyme, and basil, have edible flowers that are great for planting in areas where your chickens can forage.
What kinds of flowers won’t a chicken eat?
Some landowners in Montgomery County are now concerned about poultry in addition to deer. Particularly young families like the educational opportunities that keeping hens provides for their kids. Vegetation should be a regular element of the diet of chickens because they love it and need to eat it. A garden can be swiftly destroyed by hens, which is unfortunate for the owners. But just like deer, there are many herbs that can be used in the landscape that hens won’t eat. Borage, calendula (pot marigold), catnip, chives, feverfew, lavender, marjoram, Mexican sage, peppermint, and spearmint, as well as rosemary, sage, salvias, St. John’s wort, tansy, and yarrow are a few of these. Almost any plant will eventually be consumed by chickens if there is no other food source. These herbs will add color and texture to the landscaping, but chickens won’t eat them if they have access to other plants during mealtime.
Some herbs’ potent aromas or fuzzy leaves will deter both chickens and deer from foraging in the garden. These plants will enhance the landscape all year long with beauty and enjoyment.
Nasturtium
The leaves and blossoms of nasturtium are not only attractive to insects that consume the dreadful squash beetle larvae, but they are also edible to humans and make lovely salad garnishes.
Your chickens will adore eating the blooms and leaves, which are known to contain antibacterial and natural worming characteristics.
Squash blossoms
They are delicious when filled with a sausage/ricotta mixture and cooked, and fowl also enjoy them just from the vine.
Let children occasionally indulge; the flower is a wonderful source of calcium, iron, and vitamin A.
Marigolds
In addition to keeping insects away from your garden, marigolds act as an antioxidant and encourage the development of new skin cells.
In addition, chickens who consume marigolds produce eggs with vibrant yellow yolks.
Bee Balm
The lovely flower known as bee balm has leaves that may be used to make a healthy tea with antibacterial characteristics that can be used to treat respiratory issues in both humans and hens.
Naturally, it also draws bees, which aid in pollinating your fruit trees and flowers. The bloom and foliage will be tasty to your chickens.
Dandelions
Dandelions taste great in salads. Technically speaking, they are weeds, so why not pick some for your chickens instead of spraying them?
They are one of your yard’s most nutrient-dense plants and a natural detoxifier, containing a lot of iron, calcium, and vitamin A.
Roses
Both humans and hens can benefit from the blood-toxin-clearing, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties of roses and rose hips.
Another traditional and lovely technique to add an edible decoration to a cake is with roses.
Sunflower seeds
Sunflower seeds are undoubtedly a favorite among the feathered community. They are also incredibly healthy, giving both humans and hens protein and necessary fatty acids.
Your chickens will enjoy stripping the stalks of the leaves, which are also edible.
Do hens consume flowering plants?
Isn’t it pleasant to consider that you may now feed those weeds to your sheep rather than having to throw them out? Additionally, if you let your hens go free, they will help you with part of the weeding. (They won’t, of course, take the root out of the earth.) If you have a compost pile, you might want to consider adding your weeds to it before letting your flock forage there. (For a link on composting, see the article’s conclusion.)
Naturally, there are other weeds that you shouldn’t feed your flock. These consist of:
- Buttercup
- John’s wort
Herbs can be very beneficial and healthful for chickens, much like weeds. Beneficial herbs include lavender, bee balm, yarrow, oregano, parsley, and mint. Calming, peaceful, and fragrant describe lavender. Additionally relaxing and helpful to a chicken’s digestive system is bee balm. Yarrow improves the respiratory system and relieves tension and pain. Salmonella, E. coli, infectious bronchitis, coccidiosis, and other illnesses are thought to be resistant to oregano. One of my favorites is parsley. It has a high vitamin content, benefits the digestive system, and stimulates egg production. Mint is quite scented and helps keep flies away from the chickens’ housing.
There are several herbs that are good for chickens. The best I could think of other the ones already mentioned is as follows:
- Basil
- a Bay Leaf
- Catnip
- Chili Pepper
- Chamomile
- Cilantro
- Cinnamon
- Comfrey
- Dill
- Fennel
- Feverfew
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Gotta Kola
- Citrus balm
- Nettles
- Peppermint
- Sage Pineapple
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Spearmint
- Tarragon
- Thyme
- Wormwood
I simply adore giving my flock herbal remedies! Their health has improved, and even their eggs have. For flock owners who want to maintain their naturally healthy flock, herbs are a “must-have.
There are, however, some poisonous herbs that can harm your sheep. Avoid doing the following: •Castor Bean
- Honeysuckle
- Vetch
In addition to greens, chickens also enjoy eating flowers. They enjoy eating petals in the same way that humans eat spaghetti! Numerous flowers have positive effects on chicken health. Examples include nasturtiums, marigolds, and roses. Aromatic, relaxing, and rich in vitamin C are rose petals. My preferred flower to use in my flock may be marigolds. They have a strong perfume, give egg yolks color, and soothe sensitive skin. Nasturtium has laying-stimulating and mild antibacterial properties. The greatest place for all three of these blooms is in hen nesting boxes.
What should you avoid growing near chickens?
Phytotoxic Plants for Chickens
- Members of the nightshade family (therefore keep hens away from tomatoes and tomato plants!).
- Boxwood.
- the castor bean
- Clematis.
- Eucalyptus.
- Hydrangea.
- Iris.
- Ivy.
How can I get my hens to quit devouring my plants?
You might be interested in learning how to chicken proof your garden if, however, the chickens are a touch excessive and you’re losing too many plants. There are several ways to make a garden chicken-proof. The most obvious is to fence off the places that cause the greatest trouble. There are various methods for doing this. The most typical is probably chicken wire. It is called chicken wire for a reason.
The vegetable garden will undoubtedly need to be fenced off because there will be vulnerable new seedlings emerging as well as alluring bare spots the chickens can’t resist exploring. Any wire barrier will do; chicken wire is not required. It works well to use wire mesh or livestock fencing. Making a hedge will also keep the hens out of locations you’d prefer to keep them out of.
There are alternative methods of preventing chickens from damaging plants if you don’t want to create a completely gated area. The chickens won’t scratch and dig up new plants if rocks are placed around their bases. Plants can also be shielded using cloches or nets. Plants are kept up and out of the way by trellising. Hanging baskets and tall container plantings will deter hens from damaging delicate plants.
Plant flowerbeds closely spaced apart. Chickens are drawn to any bare spots of ground. To prevent the chickens from damaging other parts of the landscaping, keep a section of the yard designated as a dust bath. To keep them mite-free, periodically sprinkle it with diatomaceous earth.
Chickens don’t seem to be interested in certain vegetation. These are typically higher, out-of-reach plants. Roses, barberries, dogwoods, and hydrangeas are all lovely flowers that hens do not like. Sunflowers are chicken proof for obvious reasons, but plant them carefully as the unhulled seeds are not beneficial for them either.
If your hens are free range, you might want to include certain plants specifically for them rather of merely concentrating on keeping the plants away from them. Planting at least one evergreen will provide protection for them in the winter, while a dense clump of plants will let them to rest and scratch during the sweltering summer months. Elderberries or blueberries are excellent choices for the thicket because they are chicken-friendly berries. The berries will be consumed as snacks by the hens, reducing the need for pricey chicken feed.
What kind of ground cover is ideal for a chicken run?
The following are some suggestions you should be aware of when choosing the soil for the chicken run:
- Construction sand or river sand are the best types of sand to utilize as chicken run dirt. There may be little rocks in this sand as well.
- Instead of using a shovel, chicken farmers most often use a rake to remove the droppings from the sand. Then, every six months, they remove the top layer of sand.
- Concrete is an easy-to-clean substance that can be cleaned with just a hose, water, and a chemical-free disinfection solvent.
- Typically, wood flooring is rustic, smooth, and made of plywood. Wood floors frequently have a second layer of wood shavings on top of them. Always keep the shavings dry and free of dust.
- There shouldn’t be any pesticides, fungicides, herbicides, or other chemicals of any type in grass used as chicken flooring.
- You should rotate the chicken run once a month to ensure that the hens are always on grass. Every time you rotate the run, you want to take advantage of the chance to reseed the prior section of grass.
Can hens eat marigolds?
Although marigolds aren’t exactly herbs, they can help keep pests out of your chicken coop and help keep insects away from the perimeter of your garden. Fresh marigolds can help keep your chickens’ nesting boxes free of insects, much like mint and lavender do. Your chickens’ egg yolks, beaks, and feet will turn a stunning, vivid orange color if they consume the marigold petals. Additionally an antioxidant, marigold aids in the body’s detoxification when consumed.
Can hens eat geraniums?
Numerous flowers can be safely fed to hens, including:
Flowers from any member of the brassica family, which includes kale, Kohl-rabi, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, romenesco, Brussels sprouts, and calabrese, are permissible for chicken consumption. Therefore, if you cultivate any of these types, as I do, you can wait until they flower before removing them and giving the entire plant to your flock.
I’ve been raising a patch of dandelions for years to provide my chickens with early spring vegetables. It turns out that I was helping the without even realizing it. The yolks benefit from the yellow color.
Pumpkin, zucchini, and courgette blooms are enormous, brilliant yellow, and frequently consumed by humans, so there is no reason your hens should miss out on some.
These were my first edible introduction, and because to the abundance I get from my pumpkin trees, the hens never go hungry. Cucurbitacin, a toxin found in the green stems and leaves of the plants, should not be fed to animals. Only feed the male flowers because, in most situations, they must be pollinated in order to produce fruit.
With the exception of the parsnip, which contains deadly tips, many root vegetable blooms that you grow in your garden can be fed to hens without risk. All of these vegetables are palatable to chickens, including rutabaga, turnip, beetroot, carrot, and radish blossoms. Once more, apply these plants on cultivated species and stay away from the wild varieties. Even your carrot tips can be resprouted to produce greens and blossoms for hens.
Below: I give some of my radishes to the hens that have gone to blossom.
Never feed potatoes or other green sections to hens since they are root vegetables rather than tubers like potatoes.
Natural cures have traditionally included the use of roses and rose hips, and the hip is particularly rich in vitamin C.
Bolting and blossoming lettuce is definitely too bitter for most people, yet chickens don’t seem to mind and continue to eat it.
Clover – Both the red and white clover blooms are safe for chickens to eat because the entire plant is edible.
There are some concerns regarding whether the sulfur compounds in the onion family of plants will hurt chickens or flavor the eggs. These concerns include onion, chive, and garlic blossoms. My chickens accidentally ate the entire green tops of an onion plant in my vegetable garden, but there were no negative consequences.
Marigold: To prepare for winter, grow the common French marigold, cut off the green sections, and dry the petals.
Many people use echinacea, also known as coneflower, which is a plant whose flowers and seeds are thought to be beneficial for enhancing lung health. Echinacea may assist because hens are prone to respiratory diseases.
Thistle: My chickens prefer to wait for the seeds, but in the late summer, I’ve noticed that they also eat the vivid purple blossoms.
Sunflowers: Sunflower petals can be eaten. If the seed head is green, remove it completely. If the seed head is ripe, offer the seeds to the hens as well.
Geranium – The flowers of geraniums are edible, but if you use too much vivid red, it can cause the yolks to become red.
Violets: Safe for hens and used in cookery since the Roman era.
All edible herb blooms, including borage (Borago offincinalis), dill (Anethum graveolens), fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), rosemary (Salvia officinalis), and basil (Ocimum basilicum), can be fed to chickens without risk.