The complete list of boredom busters Sage is another herb that can hep repel flies and other pests from your chicken coop. Dandelions are a great source of fiber for your chickens, and because they’ll grow just about anywhere, you can sprinkle the seeds in your chicken yard and let the birds snack on the flowers once they emerge. How is that poisonous to chickens. While there are very few plants that your chickens wont love, there are several that you might want to avoid. I have an Apricot Tree that was planted 4yrs ago “pre-chicken.” Also natural parasite control for chickens, cucumbers are already in most home gardens. Does that mean I trust the chickens to 100% never eat anything dangerous, or that I could leave them in their chicken tractor parked over a bed of daffodils. The chickens will eat the insects that are attracted to those pods, and can also snack on the seeds and foliage, too. Here is a list of plants from my garden (USDA zone 9 - 10/ Sunset zone 22) that I have had success with my chickens leaving alone. … It’s better to be safe than sorry, and to limit their access to poisonous plants in ways that make sense. Hello, It may be harder to digest as the plants mature. To grow cover crops as chicken feed, simply plant them before your first frost date. Since radishes mature so quickly, it’s recommended that you plant several batches, with one every week, until the growing season ends – that way, you’ll always have a fresh crop of radishes ready to go for your birds! I didn’t notice anything about that in your article. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Spring is a great time to completely close off access to your chicken run and relocate chickens during the daylight hours (free-range your chickens or place them in a tractor to till garden beds). Chickens will also love those ears that might be overripe. Some good options include red clover, alfalfa (as described above), mustard, and grain grasses. Chickens will peck at the heads, getting a leafy treat while warding off boredom. Your chickens can have some shade from the sunlight while outside their coop if you have any of these plants growing around them. Chickens love radishes, and even if you want to save your hard-earned radish crop for yourself, you can still feed the tops to your birds. This is toxic to chickens. Chicken Resistant Plants Gardening with chickens can be a pleasure as well as a frustration and challenge. When planting cucumbers, plant in rows with 12 inches of spacing. As far as what herbs are safe for chickens to eat, there are multiple printouts of herbs that you can feed chickens in this post. Herbs are aromatic, as much of us know. Sweet potatoes are easy to grow because, since they grow underground, they don’t take up a lot of space. A cool season crop, it’s highly nutritious and a natural source of green fertilizer, adding nitrogen to the soil. Plus, you can grow any type of radish, including cherry belles, watermelons, or Daikons. Your email address will not be published. Currants are a great source of antioxidants and other nutrients for your chickens, and they will produce fruit all summer long. This is my Golden Girls Hen House. Chicken cover crops should be no taller than 3-5 inches tall. Think carefully about how many chickens you actually need, because those extra birds are probably eating much more food than you might think. Take a look at some of these plants that you can grow to supplement your chicken feed. Sweet corn is a delicacy your chicken will love. Calendula also has medicinal value for humans, and makes a great tea. Having a flock of backyard chickens means fresh eggs, entertainment, and a sense of self reliance. Thin to 1 inch when seedlings reach 6 inches in height. However, it can backfire if your girls are constantly eating and not producing. This will give the chickens a treat fresh off the vine, anytime. I thought chickens should not eat citrus, like oranges? It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Save the seeds, and you’ll have a great treat for the fall and winter months. If you have the space to do so, consider planting a crabapple tree. If you’re planning on landscaping the chicken run, then here’s the list of some chicken-friendly plants you might need to consider. Nope. For a 25 square foot bed, you can get up to 550 plants. The latin name for these plants is Solanaceae. You can feed lemon balm fresh as a chicken treat or dry it to use it in the nest boxes, sprinkled on the feed, or as a toy. Melons, like honeydew and watermelon, are a great source of nutrition for your birds. Late cabbages can be started in mid summer, and seedlings planted 12 inches apart. Whenever we add new tender plantings to the garden, as a precaution from overzealous chickens, we surround the new plant with chicken wire to keep it safe until it is well established. nice article but would be nice to know where you compiled the list from? Thin seedlings to 2-3 per hill when they are 2 inches high. Fennel plants not only attract beneficial butterfly larvae and other helpful insects, but they provide valuable chicken feed, too. Your chickens will be drawn to it as a snack – and will feel calmer as a result – and your coop will also be free from flies. Chickens benefit from fresh greens during the colder months when they don’t have access to pasture. Like berries, currants are incredibly easy to grow once you get them established on your property. However supplementing chicken feed with plants could be good for the chickens, and your pocket too. Inside.] Plants that thrive INSIDE my chicken run: [yes, you read that correctly. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Note: The great thing is that you can actually grow some of these plants right in your backyard garden. Chickens will eat most things you feed them. You can harvest comfrey up to eight times a year – all you will need to do is cut it about two inches from the ground. Dandelions are considered a weed by many, but if you have a homestead, you probably know how valuable these tiny little flowers can be. Garlic is an exceptional immune system booster and can help rid your chickens’ guts of unwanted parasites and other diseases. Happier chickens lay more eggs, and that’s a huge win for you. Harvest cabbages after the first light frost by using a sharp knife and cutting to 1 inch above the ground. To see how to make your own chicken feed, read the post here. However, it can get quite costly to buy melons at the store, even when they’re in season. It’s not usually recommended that wheat is grown in a container, as it rarely yields enough harvest for the time and space investment. I would also add Hops to the list of vining plants. Instead of serving food free choice, only give out a half a pound a day per chicken. They will eat everything, from the crowns to the stems – even the roots and leaves! Often known as “yardus interuptus” as it will take over anywhere it can, mint will provide a natural insect repellent for your chickens. When your mom told you to eat your spinach, she had your best intentions at heart – leafy greens are so good for you. Coleus Annual Hens & Chicks 4-8 Perennial Hosta 3-7 Perennial Yucca 4-11 Perennial. The eggplant is perfectly safe for them, however. Like to plant grow on run fence? Ensure your chickens do not have ready access to such plants, especially if you are free ranging your chickens… Is it just the seeds? Add Mulberry to the tree list as well. While plenty of vegetation is safe for your chickens, it’s important to understand which plants could pose a danger to their health. Is that okay? Chickweed also can be foraged for and brought home as a treat for you and your flock. You can grow thyme in your herb bed and allow your chickens to forage freely, or harvest it and hang it upside down in the coop for a fresh-smelling treat. Remember, this is not an exhaustive list: To keep your chickens safe, do your research. Having the right plants to grow around your chicken coop can be beneficial to your chicken and to yourself as well. However there are some plants and foods that can cause illness or be fatal to your hungry hens. Store in an airtight, covered container for up to 2 years, not all pumpkin varieties are orange when ripe, thump the skin, and check for a hollow sound, the stem will be hard on the pumpkin that is ripe. It will also fertilize your garden for you! Chickens generally know what is poisonous – as well as what’s good for them – and unlike humans, usually won’t overindulge on something that could make them sick. Once you plant them there’s little work on your part to keep them thriving. At this time, you can graze your chickens over the crop patch with a mobile chicken tractor or moveable poultry netting. Vines provide your chickens shade, a bit of protection for aerial predators and a tasty snack that can be foraged through the run. Is clematis vine safe for chickens? Beets, like radishes, are root vegetables that can be planted in succession. This is because they contain a compound called solanine. It’s also a great source of nitrogen, helping to build your soil as well as your compost pile. Several currant bushes planted closely together will make an excellent living hedge fence for your chickens, and they also help to attract pollinators. Well, they’re good for your chickens, too! Disclaimer: There are many, many other plants that can pose a threat to your chickens. There are so many health benefits to be found by feeding your chickens garlic – so make sure you add some to your garden! JavaScript is disabled. When plants grow over 5 inches tall, the carbon amount in their leaves increases and is less digestible for chickens. Soak them in a bowl and spread them onto a container with drainage holes. – or you can harvest a whole batch of peas for a tasty, protein-dense treat. If you have it, you may be able to transplant it to a more desirable location. These plants will die back during the winter and reemerge in the spring. When planting corn: To see some tips on canning and freezing sweet corn for your family, read the post here. Great for partial shaded areas of the garden, cabbages make a great fall planting. Only keep the chickens you need – if you are raising chickens for eggs, make sure all of your chickens are good egg producers – don’t waste money raising ornamental breeds like Silkies if you are only raising them for production. If you want them to get every last berry, just make sure you plant a thorn less variety of berry. Rinse them daily until the sprouts are four inches tall, then let your chickens enjoy the feast. There are studies currently being conducted that suggest that oregano can help fight avian flu, e. coli, coccidiosis, and salmonella. They can also help to prevent weeds from emerging. If you’d like to be more selective about what plants your chickens eat, you’ll need to pick them yourself. This low-fiber, high-protein plant is a great source of feed for chickens! Also, some of the plants on the safe list could be harmful if ingested in large amounts, or if they are contaminated by mold, fungus, pesticides, herbicides or other chemicals. Note: Some annuals can be over-wintered as perennials in warmer climates. It even contains lots of vitamin A and B12 to support healthy yolks. If you think growing sweet potatoes is reserved for gardeners in warm climates, think again -there are some varieties that can be grown even in Canada. It takes a while to get going, but once you do, you’ll have a bountiful crop. While ornamental crabapples might not produce fruits that we want to eat, your chickens will love them. The great thing is that you can actually grow some of these plants right in your backyard garden. What about plum? Feeding those chickens doesn’t have to be hard, or even expensive. Plants that are part of the nightshade family - Members of the nightshade family include potatoes, tomatoes, and eggplant. Another fun idea for free range time is to plant a garden just for your chickens, full of their favorite weeds and plants! Dry at 175 degrees F for at least 6 hours. It’s better to be safe than sorry, and to limit their access to poisonous plants in ways that make sense. This plant grows up to 18 inches tall and will come back each year. Rich in protein and minerals, you’ll have a hard time getting these off your property once they start growing! This herb provides high plant protein and antibacterial properties so it’s great for the chickens. Here are my favourite plants for chickens: Food Plants For Chickens. You can also buy seeds online if you don’t already have this plant growing wild on your property. You can feed your chickens raw carrots, too, but they’ll especially love the greens. Please tell me. Not only will this provide your chickens with access to valuable nutrients and microbes but it will also till up your compost for you! Dive into the following articles to gain insight […] Your chickens probably won’t eat the rinds, but they’ll eat everything else, including the flesh, seeds, and parts of the skin. This plant grows a lot like corn, and while it can’t be grown everywhere, you will have some happy chickens if you are able to grow it where you live. Growing sunflowers will give you large heads with lots of tasty seeds. It’s easy to grow, too – you can plant it at any time of the year during which the soil can be worked, and it will stay alive in extreme temperatures – it’s hardy in zones 3-9. If you’re already growing carrots in your garden, why not double your batch and give all the greens to your chickens? However supplementing chicken feed with plants could be good for the chickens, and your pocket too.