Chickens are curious fowls, known to peck at just about anything – and herbs are no exception! Fortunately, many culinary herbs provide a boost of nutrients and health benefits for your girl. However, which of these leafy greens are best for your hens?
Most culinary herbs are good for chickens. Aromatic herbs like basil, mint, lavender, thyme, and marigolds are great insect repellents. Then, dill, thyme, sage, fennel, and oregano are anti-parasitic and boost chickens’ immune systems. Nettles, nasturtium, garlic, and parsley are laying stimulants.
You can use culinary herbs in an array of ways with chicken keeping. Your girls will enjoy nibbling on herbs’ different colors and textures while reaping their health benefits. Continue reading for the scoop on which herbs are healthy for chickens.
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Advantages of herbs for chickens
Better tasting eggs
The taste of chicken eggs is influenced by several factors, including the quality of chicken feed and the conditions in which the chickens are kept. Various herbs that are fed regularly can also improve the taste of eggs.
Some herbs that improve the taste of eggs are:
Basil: Basil adds a fresh, aromatic flavor to eggs.
Rosemary: Rosemary gives eggs a spicy, earthy flavor.
Thyme: Thyme adds a spicy, Mediterranean flavor to eggs.
Dill: Dill gives eggs a slightly spicy flavor.
Supports the immune system
Herbs are rich in vitamins and minerals that can boost the immune system and improve chickens’ defenses. Some of the key nutrients that herbs provide that support the immune system of chickens are:
Vitamin C: Vitamin C is an important antioxidant that boosts the immune system and improves the defenses of chickens.
Vitamin K: Vitamin K is important for blood clotting and bone health and can support the immune system of chickens.
Potassium: Potassium is important for blood pressure regulation and muscle function and may support the immune system of chickens.
Zinc: Zinc is important for immune function and may support the immune system of chickens.
Promote gut flora and digestion
Herbs can help support chicken digestion by improving intestinal flora and preventing constipation by stimulating intestinal motility.
Which Herbs Are Healthy For Chickens?
Almost all culinary herbs are safe for chickens. Growing a full-fledged herb garden for your hens can benefit the flock in various ways, including boosting their immune system, deterring pests, and freshening the coop.
Here’s a list of healthy herbs and their primary benefits for your chickens.
| Herb | Primary Benefit |
| Basil | Antibacterial, mucous membrane health, insect repellent |
| Mint | Rodent and insect repellent, antioxidant, promotes respiratory health, digestive aid, promotes feather regrowth |
| Lavender | Stress reliever, increases blood circulation, repels insects, highly aromatic |
| Oregano | Combats bumblefoot, salmonella, E.coli, and aspergillus, natural antibiotic, anti-parasitic, immune system booster |
| Parsley | High vitamin and nutrient content, laying stimulant, promotes feather regrowth, promotes blood vessel development |
| Thyme | Antibacterial, anti-parasitic, laying stimulant, insect repellent |
| Garlic | Anti-fungal, laying stimulant, promotes circulation |
| Sage | Antioxidant, anti-parasitic, immune system booster, combats Salmonella |
| Marigolds | Stress reliever, promotes blood circulation, highly aromatic, insect repellent |
| Dill | Anti-parasitic, insect repellent, immune system booster, promotes feather regrowth |
| Marjoram | Anti-inflammatory, decongestant, laying stimulant, improves circulation, detoxifier |
| Nasturtium | Antiseptic, natural antibiotic, laying stimulant, insect repellent, wormer |
| Fennel | Anti-parasitic, immune system booster, promotes feather regrowth |
| Nettles | Blood cleanser, wormer, increase egg production, immune system booster |
The 6 Best Herbs For Chickens
The six best herbs for chickens are:
- Mint
- Oregano
- Lavender
- Basil
- Parsley
- Thyme
1. Mint
My all-time favorite herb to grow for my chickens (and myself) is mint. Mint is an aromatic and nutrient-rich leafy green that offers a range of benefits to chickens.
It’s best to plant mint (all varieties) in containers to prevent this prolific wanderer from taking over your entire garden.
Many people believe that mint will help cool chickens during summer. However, according to LiveScience, the cooling effects of mint are all sensations. The menthol tricks our minds into feeling cooler, similar to the capsaicin in chilies that tricks us into feeling hotter.
Still, adding a few mint leaves to your chickens’ water in the summer months serves as a tasty and refreshing treat.
Mint benefits:
- Repellent for rodents, insects, and other pests
- Aids in digestion
- Alleviates respiratory issues
- Antibacterial properties
- Boosts the immune system
- Calming and soothing effects
- Fresh aroma and smell masking
- Promotes feather regrowth
Best uses:
- Plant fresh mint outside the run of the coop to deter pests. Your chickens can snack on the leaves that peek through the holes.
- You can sprinkle fresh or dried mint into your hens’ nesting boxes or dust bath areas.
- Hang bunches of mint around the coop’s run to discourage flies and other insects.
2. Oregano
I’ve often heard backyard chicken owners boast about the powerful benefits of herbs – oregano always seems to make the list.
A study proves that this herb is one of the most powerful natural antibiotics, exceeding many of our currently-used antibiotics.
Oregano contains carvacrol, a substance that helps this herb act as an impressive anti-inflammatory and antibiotic. Carvacrol also helps improve healthy weight gain, which is ideal if you have broiler or dual-purpose chickens.
Oregano also contains thymol, a substance delivering antifungal benefits while strengthening the immune system. The herb can help keep your hens safe from common poultry illnesses like bumblefoot, Salmonella, E.coli, and aspergillus.
Oregano benefits:
- Antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-parasitic properties
- It serves as a natural antibiotic
- It supports a healthy immune system
- Protects against toxins
- Pain relieving properties
- Improved digestive health and healthy weight gain
Best uses:
- Scatter oregano around the nesting boxes, bedding, and coop.
- Roughly chop fresh oregano leaves and mix them into the chicken feed.
- Hang bunches of oregano in the run or coop for your chickens to pick at.
3. Lavender
Lavender is so much more than an attractive, aromatic herb. This powerful herb thrives in tons of sun and well-draining soil. You can plant lavender in pots, gardens, or herb circles.
Your girls will likely avoid eating fresh lavender due to its strong aroma. However, they will benefit from the herb in other ways.
Lavender is especially beneficial to laying and sitting hens due to its calming properties. In addition, it will help calm your highly strung hens.
Lavender benefits:
- Repels bugs and insects
- Freshens up the coop
- It serves as a natural stress reliever
- Increases blood circulation
Best use:
- Add fresh lavender to the nesting boxes to help calm stressed hens during laying and sitting.
- Pop some lavender in the dust bath areas to provide “aromatherapy” for your hens.
- Scatter fresh or dried lavender around the coop to freshen the smell.
- Hang lavender bunches around the coop to deter insects.
4. Basil
Basil is another favorite in my herb garden! I quickly noticed that my hens seem to gravitate towards basil – they love eating the leaves right off the plant.
Basil is super nutritious, offering various health benefits to chickens. In addition, it allows them to lay eggs with bright orange yolks.
I usually harvest and dry all the remaining basil leaves before the winter to add dried and crushed basil to their feed.
Basil benefits:
- Benefits circulatory and mucus membrane to support respiratory health
- It supports their immune system
- Improves digestion
- Acts as an anti-inflammatory
- Encourages bright orange egg yolks
- Repels insects
- Excellent source of calcium, vitamin A, vitamin K, and antioxidants (all beneficial for egg production)
Best use:
- Place container plants in the coop to keep your girls in top shape.
- Toss basil cuttings into the chicken coop or add chopped leaves to their feed.
- Hang bunches of fresh basil in the run or coop.
- Brew a herbal tea.
5. Parsley
We all know parsley is a famous garnish for plates, yet this pretty green serves as much more. Parsley is jam-packed with vitamins and nutrients.
You can add parsley to your chickens’ diet to give them a healthy boost, promote blood vessel development, and encourage egg-laying.
Parsley benefits:
- Excellent source of calcium, magnesium, iron, selenium, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and K
- Aids in blood vessel development
- Egg-laying stimulant
Best use:
- Air-dry the parsley leaves and add crushed bits to layer feed.
- Tie fresh parsley leaves onto the run for your ladies to peck. You can also simply scatter the leaves around the coop.
- Brew a herbal tea.
6. Thyme
Thyme is a hardy and low-maintenance herb that fits best in containers and pots due to its spreading tendency. This grey-green herb is downright delicious and full of health benefits.
Thyme is another aromatic herb that is an excellent insect repellent due to its strong aroma. In addition, it can act as an herbal antibiotic to help tackle respiratory infections.
I enjoy planting thyme in my chicken coop as a pretty groundcover- my girls love dust bathing in it.
Thyme benefits:
- Aids in respiratory health
- Aids in digestive health
- Boosts immune system
- It contains antibacterial and anti-parasitic properties
- Excellent insect repellent
- Laying stimulant
- Promotes feather regrowth
Best uses:
- Hang thyme bundles around the coop’s run and sprinkle them in the nesting boxes to deter insects and pests (lemon or lime thyme works best).
- Plant thyme as a ground cover in the coop for your chickens to dust bath.
- Mix dry and crushed thyme into the feed.
The Best Way To Use Herbs In The Chicken Coop
The best way to introduce herbs to your chicken coop is to:
- Chop up fresh herbs and toss them into the coop as a free supplement choice for your girls
- Add fresh or dried herbs into the feed
- Hang herb bundles on the run or coop
- Sprinkle herbs into their dust bath area
- Brew a herbal tea
Conclusion
Thankfully, most culinary herbs are hardy and insanely easy to grow – potted or in garden soil – and no green thumb is required.
Consider adding culinary herbs to the chicken coop as a healthy and sweet treat for your girls to munch. And enjoy reaping the benefits of a fresh aroma, healthy fowls, and protection from unwanted pests and diseases.
