Chickens will of course scratch around and eat many plants in the garden, including tender vegetable and fruit crops that you have to fence off. Top on our list of the best plants to grow for your flock of chickens is the sunflower. Beets are one of the best plants you can grow for your chickens. Chickens can eat zucchini, courgette, marrows, summer squashes and patty pans as well as the flowers from any of those plants. It also makes their beaks and feet brighter in color! Anyone who free ranges their flock even some of the time knows that chickens will eat pretty much anything you have planted, so why not choose some nutritious flowers that they will enjoy when you're planning your gardens in the spring ? Not only do they mature quickly, providing you with a crop in a matter of mere weeks, but they are also super versatile. These flowers are edible for chickens and humans. Most chickens are not picky eaters and will be thrilled if you offer them anything on this list. If in doubt, keep potentially harmful plants away from your birds. Some plants are poisonous to chickens although fortunately they are quite savvy about what not to eat and it is very rare for a chicken to eat poisonous plants due to their bitter taste. When the weather is warm, the plants will grow very quickly. Roses, marigolds and nasturtium are some examples. If you’re looking to put some plants in your garden that the chickens won’t touch, have a look at this list: These plants are what we’ve found (from experience) that chickens … As an added bonus, chickens who eat marigolds lay eggs with bright yellow yolks… Chicken-Safe Floral Plants If you find yourself wanting to landscape around your chicken’s enclosure, these plants will add seasonal color and are perfectly safe. It also can help improve respiratory health. As you can see, the list of foods that chickens can eat is pretty epic! (As an added bonus, all ten of these flowers are also edible for humans.) However, you need to make sure that the chickens have enough room in their enclosure. This herb produces large, lacy pods of yellow flowers. Plants That Are Toxic To Chickens – Listed below are common plants that are known to be toxic to chickens (and most other birds). Great Job. Bee Balm 3-9 Perennial Ensure your chickens do not have ready access to such plants, especially if you are free ranging your chickens… It’s truly one of the best weeds to find on your property. To avoid respiratory illnesses, it is best that you feed fresh dill to your birds. Makes me want to make a flower salad for the gals as well as myself:). Echinacea (or coneflower) flowers and seeds are excellent for improving respiratory health. Chickens eat garden plants, given half a chance. Lacy pods of yellow flowers can attract butterfly larvae and beneficial insects. Chickens are lucky because they can eat almost anything they come across. I'll have to give that one a try. 7. But when giving them a variety of treats, you should be careful enough not to provide them with toxic foods. Generally speaking, they will have a rough idea about whether something is going to cause them health issues but, for the most part, they will try anything once. But it sounds like I either have to pull up most of my yard or not let the chicks, once old enough, free range. Love this...can't wait to plant extras of these flowers so we can indulge our chickens! I also have plants in the yard that I planted just for them. Already a Member but • Marigold - Just like calendula (pot marigold) listed above, when your chickens eat the petals, it will make the egg yolks they lay a vibrant orange color. ), the Fushia flowers, and any raspberries they could reach through out the yard. It can be tempting to take a pale of leftovers out to your coop and dump everything right into their feed dish. But can chickens eat eggplant? The chickens did dig out all of my narcissis bulbs, destroyed that area and ate the lower grape leaves on my vines, ate the alstromeria flowers blossoms (my favorites! 2.Close & Plant Your Chicken Run in the Spring. 8. The plants like it warm and humid and thrive in most zones throughout the country. Here are my choices forThe Top Ten Flowers your Chickens Will Love: 6. 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). Although these omnivorous birds can eat the vast majority of the foods that we eat, there are some definite foods that chickens shouldn’t eat. Sunflower seeds are obviously a favorite among the feathered crowd, and also very nutritious, providing protein and essential oils to both humans and hens. There, I said it. Chickens are extremely susceptible to respiratory illnesses, so planting some echinacea will benefit them greatly. The flowers come in different sizes and various shades of red, yellow and orange. Thanks for the information and I loved the pictures. At GRIT, we have a tradition of respecting the land that sustains rural America. While I have no concern about losing the plant I do have concern about the health and safety of my chickens. Lacy pods of yellow flowers attract butterfly larvae and beneficial insects for chickens to eat. Good to know the flowers that are edible plus the nutritional information provided with them. I guess technically a weed, instead of spraying them why not pick some for your chickens. Many plants have toxic properties that act as a type of innate defense to help the plants to survive. Even though many ornamental plants are mildly toxic or poisonous to chickens, they’re highly unlikely to eat these plants while free-ranging. Full sun. Plantain has big, glossy heart shaped leaves and is well loved by chickens. Chickens are not fussy eaters. Toxins in certain plants can cause serious harm to birds within the flock. The leaves are edible as well and your chickens will enjoy stripping the stalks of them. The Best Plants to Grow That Chickens Can Eat Sunflowers. The Top Ten Flowers your Chickens Will Love: Nasturtium not only attract bugs that eat the dreaded squash beetle larvae, the leaves and flowers are also edible for humans and make wonderful salad garnish. 9. There are many flowers that can be safely fed to chickens: Cruciferous vegetable flowers - Chickens can have the flowers, and indeed the whole plant, from any member of the brassica family, which includes kale, Kohl-rabi, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, romenesco, Brussels sprouts and calabrese. don't have an online On this page, we want to talk about chickens eating eggplants. Too little space can make a chicken unhappy. These decorative plants come packed with hundreds of seeds for your birds to eat. I have different plants mentioned in different spots all over the yard...not like it is in one area. They will eat just about anything that you give them. 7. But, as robust as chickens are, there are still a few things chickens cannot eat. The chickens will eat the insects that are attracted to those pods, and can also snack on the seeds and foliage, too. Flowers to Steer Clear Of:For the most part, chickens will avoid those flowers that are harmful to them, but to be on the safe side, it's best to AVOID planting the following potentially toxic plants in areas your chickens can access:azalea, black nightshade, buttercup, castor bean, clematis, corn cockle, foxglove, henbane, honeysuckle, irises, lily of the valley, oleander, privet, rhubarb leaves, rhododendron, St. John's Wort, sweet pea, trumpet vine, vetch, yewThere are many, many more potentially harmful flowers and plants....but if you stick to the ten safe AND nutritious flowers above, your chickens will thank you ! Chickens love to eat not only greens but also flowers. ... just throw the flower pods over to the chickens so they can eat them right from the flower. But if you want your hens to have ease when laying eggs, you can just hang dry dill leaves inside or near the nesting boxes. Or, Bill Me Later and send me one year of GRIT for just $22.95! These plants can grow in slightly cooler temperatures, so you can start growing them before Spring is in its peek. They love to slurp petals in their mouths like we do spaghetti noodles! Whether they’re feasting on the leaves or pecking on the leftover seeds on the ground - your chickens will eat their greens more than your children will! I prefer free chicken food. They are a natural detoxifier and one of the most nutritious plants in your yard, with lots of iron, calcium and Vitamin A. Calendula. Already a Member? So next on our list of the best herbs for chickens to eat is calendula, and there’s a good reason for that.. Calendula have long been known to repel insects in gardens, and they’re considered to be one of the best companion plants out there.. 10. There are many flowers that hold health benefits for chickens. My chickens have recently discovered my aloe vera plants. Feverfew: Tanacetum parthenium. Calendula can be used by chickens as well, and it grows in most places, especially between vegetables. Sign in with your online account. Thanks for the great info. Your chickens will love eating both the loeaves and the flowers, which are thought to be a natural wormer and also have antibiotic properties. Clover Blossoms are considered to be the most nutritious weed in your yard. Great information...will be growing these for the "girls"..and Rooster Cogborn also..he is such a gentleman.. If you’re a gardener (or aspiring gardener) with spoiled fowl, you might want to grow the 10 seed varieties we mention below and even consider getting all of them in a single 10-pack bundle straight from our USDA certified organic heirloom seed company (GrowJourney) – PayPal purchase link here and at the bottom of the article. That's why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to GRIT through our automatic renewal savings plan. Instructions For Operating Fairbanks-Morse Eclipse E-Book, Cattle Grazing: Turnips and Other Root Crops for Livestock. Your chickens can eat both the root crop and leafy greens, too. Top 10 Garden Plants For Chickens and Ducks. Fennel The best way to keep your chickens from temptation is to restrict them to a Walk In Chicken Run or some other area or enclosure away from any of your prized plants. Prevention is far easier than cure. Plants chickens can’t eat may also be found growing wild throughout your property, as many native flowers and foliage plants could cause harm. account? Very informative. Marigolds not only ward off insects in your garden, but they are also an antioxidant and promote the growth of new skin tissue. Hi, thanks for stopping by. So, using them in your chicken coop, in nesting boxes, for example, will help repel bugs and keep them out of your nesting boxes. It’s one of the best companion plants to repel insects. Plantain is also good for people to eat, and is famously used for its healing properties. Mid -summer 2013 The planting area in front of our coop is roughly 3 feet by 7 feet with just enough space for a handful of common cottage flowers such as Black-eyed Susan, Day-lilies, Hollyhocks and Tall Phlox. Poisonous ornamental plants. Chickens should not be give the green parts of courgettes or zucchini plants as they contain a mild poison. Feverfew is an excellent insect repellent if you dry its small daisy-like flowers. We don’t feed our chickens most of the year. These symptoms include … I just planted some Nasturtium and some herbs I picked out using the info from one of your previous blogs. Zones vary by species. Additionally, the seeds seem to do a great job at getting rid of nasty intestinal worms. Their foliage and seeds are good for chickens to eat for general health. Beautiful pictures! The flowers also contain anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. 29. An abundant supply of fresh fruits, vegetables and garden greens is part of a balanced diet, but not all the plants in your … A lot of my other backyard plants are larger and established so they could handle more abuse. Roses and rose hips cleanse blood toxins and act as antiseptics and antibacterial agents for both humans and chickens. Plus I also have the goal to get a bee hive and I’ve heard sunflowers are a great source of pollen for bees. Both a blood purifier and an antioxidant, clover provides calcium, iron, magnesium and Vitamins A, B-12 and E as well as respiratory benefits. Perennials. They have eaten alot of it, prickles and all. For example, you can add calendula flowers into your salads. That was very interesting to know what flowers are edible and benificial to the chickens and beautiful photos, that was something that I have never seen anyone write about. Like to read more content, Join the Grit Community Today. Dandelions are a nice addition to salads. Register now to get access to ALL current video workshops and prerecorded webinars plus anything new that we add through the end of 2020. Their foliage and seeds are also good for general health. Easily reseeds itself in the garden. Thyme. 6. This is the reason they are omnivorous animals, just like humans. Amazon Affiliate Disclaimer, 30 Mind-Blowing Bicycle Planter Ideas For Your Garden or On-The-Go, The Different Types of Low-Maintenance Geraniums, 15 Ingenious DIY Outdoor Garden Planter Ideas For A Versatile Garden, 12 Perfect Plants for Outdoor Pots in Florida. To feed your chickens cucumbers, you can simply slice off a few pieces and leave it for them to eat. This plant can be harvested any time, but the younger leaves are said to have the best flavour. By paying now with a credit card, you save an additional $6 and get 6 issues of GRIT for only $16.95 (USA only). Chickens Sharing your kitchen scraps and leftovers with your flock is a great way to vary their diet, especially when winter has killed the grasses and bugs they usually forage upon. Chickens can eat a lot of different food items– don’t forget they are omnivores, so they love both meat and veggies. Should I dig up the bush or let them eat it? My nasturtiums and squash just started blooming, so the girls are in for a real treat! Thyme has strong antibacterial and antibiotic properties. Your chickens will love eating both the leaves and the flowers off nasturtium plants. Great blog! Roses are also a classic as well as a beautiful way to decorate a cake with an edible garnish. Your free-range flock loves roaming into the garden and treating the marigolds, squash blossoms and dandelions like an all-you-can-eat salad bar.