Herbs For Your Chickens

Backyard chickens are so great, aren’t they? But while they live outside, dig holes and poop all over everything, they still need us to help them have a quality life. (And hey, if your backyard flock is providing food for your family, it all comes back to benefit you anyway, right?) So why not look into low-risk, cheap and easy ways to improve their overall health? Read on for a quick article – including the list, of course! – of herbs for your chickens.

I am not a vet. Don’t take anything I say as medical advice.

Thoughts About Adding Herbs For Chickens

• I normally add these herbs in with the chicken feed but you can also add it in their nesting boxes or in their dust bath.
• Try adding one new herb at a time, so that you can note changes or improvements with your flock. (I recommend documenting everything in your Chicken Tender’s Journal.)
• You can also give breaks where your chickens don’t get any herbs at all. You don’t HAVE to do any of these things!
• Everything in balance – while I don’t specifically measure out each herb that I use, I’m mindful that too much can harm the chickens instead of helping them, or affect the taste of the hens’ eggs, etc.
• You can use fresh, dried, powder, etc. when it comes to which form of herbs for your chickens. I prefer fresh leaves or crushed/powdered from the grocery store. Whatever works!
• Can also grow your own! Check out my All Things Green playlist on Youtube for all kinds of ideas on how to propagate plants for free, etc.

Oregano

• Nutrient absorption
• Cleanliness of the eggs when laid
• People also swear by oregano oil to help prevent respiratory illness but I haven’t tried this consistently.

Basil

• Respiratory benefits
• Yolk richness

Cayenne/Red Pepper/Chili Powder

• Kills internal parasites
• Repels mice, rats, squirrels, etc.
• Chickens can’t taste capsaicin

Cinnamon

• Antimicrobial
• Antiinflammatory
• Antioxidant

Garlic

• Kills bacteria and parasites
• Boosts immune system

Dill

• Respiratory benefits
• Antioxidant

Thoughts

• Everything in balance – not all at once
• Give “breaks” without the herbs if you want
• Can use fresh, dried, powder, etc.