Gardening is one of my first loves!  And ever since I got chickens, I wanted to grow herbs that would make them happy and their lives better.  So I’m sharing with you my Top Herbs to Grow for Your Chickens. You will learn what herbs chickens can eat, herbs for the chicken coop, and how to grow herbs.

Mint

Mint is a great herb for chickens to eat and to place in their nesting boxes and dust bath areas.  It has a calming effect on chickens.  It is also great for deterring rodents and insects.

When eating mint, it can lower chickens’ body temperature.  This is perfect for hot summer days.  Place some in your chickens’ water for a cool and refreshing treat.   

Growing mint is so easy!  But, be warned, it will spread like crazy.  It is best to put it in pots.  But, if you have a place you need coverage, mint can do the job. It will come back every year.

Lavender

I’ve always loved growing lavender.  Lavender smells great and is known to calm humans and chickens.   Bugs don’t like lavender, so it will help repel them when used in and around the coop.  Hang lavender in the coop to dry and allow it to emit its fragrant scent.  Lavender is my favorite nesting herb for chickens.

Add dried and fresh lavender to your hens’ nesting boxes to create a relaxing place for them.  Lavender will come back year after year.  It will not spread like mint, but each plant will grow larger with time.

Marigold

Marigolds are one of my other favorite additions to my chickens’ coop & diet. I have always grown marigolds throughout my garden to help repel insects. 

Marigold will help your chickens’ egg yolks become a darker orange color and have many health benefits. Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant are the main properties of Marigold that will benefit your flock. Marigold will need to be replanted each year.

Oregano

Hang it in the run for them to pick at or cut it up and add it to their feed.  Oregano is popular not only for the flavor that it adds to meals, but it also has antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties.  It is full of vitamins, calcium, and antioxidants.   A great herb for your chickens’ health.

Oregano will come back the next year and your plants will grow larger in size.

Basil

Basil has antibacterial properties and is good for mucous membrane health. It is easy to grow and I use it a lot in the home for my family. I plant new basil seeds every year.

Herbs for Chicken Coop

If you decide to start growing herbs for your chickens, you have so many choices. Nearly every herb is beneficial to chickens! Not only that, you can use them in almost anything chicken-related. Put them in their nesting boxes, on the coop floor, in the dust bath area, in their food and water.

A few more Herbs and Tips

• Nettles, Parsley, Sage, and spearmint improve overall health. 
• Rosemary, Dill, Parsley, and Mint assist feather growth. 
• Basil, Bee Balm, Cinnamon, Clover, Dill, Echinacea, Rosemary, Thyme, and Yarrow are great for respiratory health. 
• Basil, Chervil, Coriander, Dill, Fennel, Marjoram, Parsley, Spearmint, and Tarragon are herbs with high protein.

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