Medicinal Herbs
Animals are incredibly intuitive about what they should and should not eat. Adding herbs to your chicken’s diet is the best thing you can do for them. When your chickens free range they flock to what is healthiest for them and herbs is great start to that. Below is a list of benefits of medicinal herbs for you fluffy butt friends.
- Herbs make your chickens happier and happy chickens lay more eggs!!
- Chickens will pick herbs when given the chance to self medicate if given the chance to do so by free ranging.
- Pest detest aromatic plants and will stay away from them. So, if you want a pest free coop, toss in herbs to the nesting boxes or hang them from the ceiling in the coop. Herbs are aromatic and it’s a win win for all.
- Trace minerals are found in herbs that aren’t included in commercial layer mixes. Extra vitamins and minerals are provided by herbs to your chickens that they might not get in their daily feed.
BASIL
Chickens have a vulnerable respiratory system and basil can help with your chickens’ mucous membrane health. Try adding the basil to their waterer or to their feed.
GARLIC
What?!!! Yes. Garlic is beneficial for chickens just like it is for humans. Garlic is known to be an anti-fungal that can get rid of bacteria and fungi that impact the health of your chickens. It is also a laying stimulant. You can ACTUALLY add garlic cloves into the nesting boxes to encourage the hens to lay more.
COMFREY
Comfrey has quite the list of useful ways to use it. It is a medicinal herb that was valued by the ancient Greeks. They used this herb to heal wounds, broken bones, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal problems. Ways to use this herb to help your chickens is by adding to their feed to help encourage better digestion. If your chicken ends of with any scrapes or scratches or their feathers pulled you can create a herbal salve with a combination of dried comfrey leaves, beeswax and olive oil.
THYME
Thyme is GREAT to deter bugs that might bother your chicken flock. The bugs HATE the strong scent of of THYME and that’s why you should hang bundles of it in your chickens coop and run if possible. Their nesting boxes can also benefit from thyme. Another good herb as well to treat respiratory issues. Just add to your chickens’ feed.
LAVENDER
So, Lavender is not a scent that I like at all but it’s not about me it’s about keeping my chickens healthy. Your chickens more than likely enjoy it for various reasons but the bugs highly dislike it. It’s calming and peaceful to chickens and they really enjoy it. Add it to their dust bath areas. Add twigs in the nesting box areas.
MINT
Mint is another herb you can hang dried bundles of inside the coop. Mint is a big discourager of flies visiting. Mint is a natural herb to help lower body temperature. Chickens naturally like the flavor of it so you can cool them down with nature. Freeze some into ice cubes for them to keep it fun for them. It is VERY invasive so you might not want to grow it outside of containers or raised bed. Try planting it outside the cook to deter rodents.
OREGANO
Oregano has antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties that can help support your chickens’ immune and respiratory systems. One of the best ways to use oregano as a medicinal herb for chickens is by adding fresh leaves to your chicken feed. Another option is to hang dried bunches of the herb in your chicken coop or run. Your chickens can eat the herbs as they run around. Anyone familiar with essential oils knows that oregano is a powerhouse that can be used in many situations. Oregano has antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties that can help support your chickens’ immune and respiratory systems.
CALENDULA
Adding calendula into your chicken’s diet is helpful. It helps keep feet and beaks healthy. It also has healing properties, such as being anti-inflammatory and antibacterial. You can use a homemade calendula salve to treat a prolapsed vent or helping an egg bound hen. These flowers are edible for chickens and humans. For example, you can add calendula flowers into your salads. If your chickens eat calendula, you’ll notice a change in the color of their yolks, turning a bright orange color. It’s sometimes referred to as pot marigold, and it’s one of the most common medicinal herbs used by humans. Calendula can be used by chickens as well, and it grows in most places, especially between vegetables. It’s one of the best companion plants to repel insects.
As always, I hope you enjoyed reading this informative blog for chickens. Let me know in the comments your thoughts about herbs for chickens. Also, let me know of anything else you’d like me to research and do a blog about. I mainly write about homesteading life but occasionally do a blog for my side hustle which is AVON. http://www.youravon.com/tnalltillett is where you can shop my online store to help me out with my research and small businesses. Thank you. Have a blessed day. – Tammy Nall Tillett email me at tammyjnalltillett@yahoo.com
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