Cool-season annual. There is no reason to … Lemon balm not only smells great – you may have already guessed that it smells just like lemon! If you have it, you may be able to transplant it to a more desirable location. Space the hills at least 3 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. White clover is a fantastic living mulch, making it one of the best ground cover crops you can grow near your chickens.… Growing sunflowers will give you large heads with lots of tasty seeds. If you aren’t already growing nasturtiums in your garden, you need to start. Well, they’re good for your chickens, too! Chickens will also love those ears that might be overripe. Another good forage plant for chickens that’s also an edible plant for humans. Here are some great choices for growing greens in your own garden and then hand-feeding to your chickens: Arugula, beet tops and leaves, Brussels sprouts, carrot tops, chicory, collard greens, endive, kale, kohlrabi, lettuce (all types), mache (corn salad), mizuna, mustard, New Zealand spinach, radicchio, sorrel, spinach, Swiss chard, turnip greens, and wheat grass. These greens are actually weeds and are great foraging plants that chickens count among their favorites. Also natural parasite control for chickens, cucumbers are already in most home gardens. However, it can get quite costly to buy melons at the store, even when they’re in season. Toss a few fresh leaves in their nesting boxes and in their coop for a sweet smell, too. You can also look for chicken breeds that are good natural foragers and are better at finding their own food. Arugula Beet tops and leaves Brussels sprouts Carrot tops and leaves Cauliflower tops and leaves Chicory Collard greens Endive Kale Kohlrabi Lettuce (all types) Mache (corn salad) Mizuna … Garlic is an exceptional immune system booster and can help rid your chickens’ guts of unwanted parasites and other diseases. Follow Bonnie at VintageGardenGal.com. You can also try more fruit trees and canes like Raspberries, Blueberries, and Mulberries. If you think growing sweet potatoes is reserved for gardeners in warm climates, think again -there are some varieties that can be grown even in Canada. There is a huge amount of diversity in the size, shape, color, and taste of various chicory … The information provided on The Homesteading Hippy is for educational purposes only. Spread at 5 lbs. Thin to 1 inch when seedlings reach 6 inches in height. They will also eat the root, however, so make sure you save them some extra! Pacing chickens eating greens is hard to do. The chickens will eat the insects that are attracted to those pods, and can also snack on the seeds and foliage, too. You can harvest greens for chickens during the summer, and then let annuals like amaranth produce their seed heads in the fall. To see how to make your own chicken feed, read the post here. The vegetables from this family—all of the summer and winter squashes, cucumbers, cantaloupes,... Leguminosae Family. When your mom told you to eat your spinach, she had your best intentions at heart – leafy greens are so good for you. Most of the time, a good quality chicken feed that you find at the local farm supply store will be sufficient. This plant withstands traffic and stress quite well, so even if you allow your chickens to forage directly on a patch of white clover, you might find that it keeps coming back. They are done when they are crispy and “snap”. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health issues you may have with your physician. … Protection, shelter, and food are just as … Harvest cabbages after the first light frost by using a sharp knife and cutting to 1 inch above the ground. For a 25 square foot bed, you can get up to 550 plants, plant seeds approximately 4 inches apart, then thin to 10 inches once they are 2 inches tall, for extended harvest, plant rows several days apart, carefully pull apart the head to expose the seeds, soak seeds overnight in salt solution of 1/4 cup of salt for every quart of water. This plant provides several other benefits, too, serving as a great windbreak, an excellent natural dye, and one of the best ways to fix nitrogen in your soil. Another great insect repellent, this bright yellow-orange flower is known to be one of the best garden companions out there. 9 Medicinal Herbs for Chickens to Keep Your Flock Healthier Mint WILL take over where the roots can reach. Besides saving you money, these plants sampled here have a high nutritional value, and they are good for your chickens. You can feed lemon balm fresh as a chicken treat or dry it to use it in the nest boxes, sprinkled on the feed, or as a toy. As cold-season crops, they grow best in the spring and fall. Unlike regular white potatoes, which can be toxic to chickens, sweet potatoes are safe for your birds to eat. The great thing is that you can actually grow some of these plants right in your backyard garden. Although these greens are considered weeds, some are edibles for humans. These cruciferous vegetables are good for everybody – chickens included. To dry sunflower seeds to store for year round treats: Growing pumpkins in your garden makes for some tasty treats for the family. Colorful rainbow chard + broccoli greens tucked away in a secret area where the chickens don't have access. Think carefully about how many chickens you actually need, because those extra birds are probably eating much more food than you might think. Beets, like radishes, are root vegetables that can be planted in succession. Cover with 1/2 in of loose soil and water well. Dandelions are considered a weed by many, but if you have a homestead, you probably know how valuable these tiny little flowers can be. The trick is … Feeding those chickens doesn’t have to be hard, or even expensive. Often known as “yardus interuptus” as it will take over anywhere it can, mint will provide a natural insect repellent for your chickens. Chickens will also enjoy the seeds. Sweet corn is a delicacy your chicken will love. Even on a small homestead, you can grow wheat. They’ll love them! Gardening with Free-Range Chickens For Dummies Cheat Sheet, How to Transform a Dog Kennel into a Chicken Coop, 10 Beneficial Tools for Raising Free-Range Chickens. There are dozens of cover crops to choose from, but some popular choices include cereal rye, buckwheat, and winterpeas. Calendula also has medicinal value for humans, and makes a great tea. Good choices for hardy perennial greens: Comfrey is easily the best herb to grow for chooks. It will have tiny white flowers with deeply notched petals. Spinach is not only great for you, but it’s one of the best vegetables to grow in pots. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. You can harvest comfrey up to eight times a year – all you will need to do is cut it about two inches from the ground. Oregano is believed to help improve immune functioning in a variety of creatures – humans and chickens included. Time lapse of the actual growing and a look at the hens enjoying their treat. While there are very few plants that your chickens wont love, there are several that you might want to avoid. They can eat the leaves, stems, vines, flesh, and skins of this plant. Lush spring pasture is the best, of course, and that’s easy enough. Naomi Montacre shares the in and outs of feeding fresh greens to your backyard chickens. Please tell me. Chickens love radishes, and even if you want to save your hard-earned radish crop for yourself, you can still feed the tops to your birds. Or both seeds and fruit? Cover crops are often planted to fix nitrogen, improve soil quality, and hold moisture. You can give them the ears right from the garden, or the leftovers after canning. If you have pasture or large zones, try planting them in greens. Greens-Mustard Greens, Kale, Cabbage, Chard~ Chickens love these vitamin packed greens. Dry at 175 degrees F for at least 6 hours. Dandelions: Taraxacum officinale. But what you probably didn’t know is that they can also serve as an excellent source of feed! However, it can backfire if your girls are constantly eating and not producing. For a 25 square foot bed, you can get up to 550 plants. Tilling it up is not an option when it spreads, as the roots will continue to keep going. You can also cut and carry the harvest directly to your chickens, too. Plus, you can grow any type of radish, including cherry belles, watermelons, or Daikons. Some good options include red clover, alfalfa (as described above), mustard, and grain grasses. Take a look at some of these plants that you can grow to supplement your chicken feed. It will also fertilize your garden for you! 8. These veggies rank … 1,000 square feet will yield you a bushel of wheat berries. When planting corn: To see some tips on canning and freezing sweet corn for your family, read the post here. This herb produces large, lacy pods of yellow flowers. Is it just the seeds? You can mince the garlic and add it to their water, or you can feed it out free-choice once you’ve harvested it. Instead of serving food free choice, only give out a half a pound a day per chicken. All rights reserved. However supplementing chicken feed with plants could be good for the chickens, and your pocket too. All you need to do is start with seeds from plants like peas, corn, sunflowers, wheatgrass, oats, or soybeans. These boxes give young grass the protection it needs to grow thick even in a crowded chicken run, while providing forage and entertainment for enclosed chickens. You can grow berry bushes at home with ease, and with any luck, you probably have some berry bushes growing wild on your property, too! Similar in taste to spinach, with a little more mineral taste. Like many other herbs, lavender is a natural insect repellant that can help freshen the smell of your coop. – or you can harvest a whole batch of peas for a tasty, protein-dense treat. Warm-season annual and common weed. It takes a while to get going, but once you do, you’ll have a bountiful crop. Plantains are used by humans as natural laxatives, but they serve as an excellent source of food for chickens. These plants will die back during the winter and reemerge in the spring. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, directly into the ground, as cucumbers generally do not like to be moved. For the easiest, most convenient option, just plant a crabapple tree in your chicken yard and let your hens go to town – they will love the tiny little fruits! … As a bonus, the seeds can provide natural de-worming  and parasite control for the chickens. Growing greens in your vegetable garden, allows you to harvest greens for yourself whenever you like, and hand feed them to your chickens in moderate amounts. You can grow thyme in your herb bed and allow your chickens to forage freely, or harvest it and hang it upside down in the coop for a fresh-smelling treat. They’re high in nutrients and many are good for giving you the lovely dark orange egg yolks. Chickweed also can be foraged for and brought home as a treat for you and your flock. They will eat everything, from the crowns to the stems – even the roots and leaves! It’s also a great source of nitrogen, helping to build your soil as well as your compost pile. They can also help to prevent weeds from emerging. This low-fiber, high-protein plant is a great source of feed for chickens! Not only do these lovely flowers help to repel pests, but they are also gorgeous to look at. Although it shares the same name, it’s dissimilar to the type of banana. It’s a great option for a low-cost feed to give to your chickens to keep them healthy. There are studies currently being conducted that suggest that oregano can help fight avian flu, e. coli, coccidiosis, and salmonella. They’ll love pecking at the green leaves, which … The best practice is to not harvest when rain is coming, as it can damage the entire crop. last updated by Rebekah White July 16th 2019. To feed alfalfa to your chickens, it will need to be harvested and dried before it blooms. To see how to make a chicken swing and other great gift ideas for your flock, read the post here. Silverbeet, Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla , is a well-known … Chicory, for instance, is a green suitable for pasture planting. Try planting some mustard greens, kale, chard and lettuce in a planter just for your girls. Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. It is high in protein and is an excellent ground cover to plant near chickens. You can harvest the heads and feed them to your chickens then, or you can allow them to tear up that section of your garden once a heavy frost has hit. Store in an airtight, covered container for up to 2 years, not all pumpkin varieties are orange when ripe, thump the skin, and check for a hollow sound, the stem will be hard on the pumpkin that is ripe. If egg production drops, you can add slightly more. … Let the chickens till up the bed about two or three weeks before you need to plant in it. You might, … Only keep the chickens you need – if you are raising chickens for eggs, make sure all of your chickens are good egg producers – don’t waste money raising ornamental breeds like Silkies if you are only raising them for production. Lettuce and Leafy Greens - All are excellent to feed to your chickens and are full of nutrients and … Be sure to pin this for later! Rich in protein and minerals, you’ll have a hard time getting these off your property once they start growing! Great Crops For Your Chickens Cucurbitaceae Family. If chickens have access to greens, they will most likely eat them all at once. Purslane: Portulaca oleracea. Several currant bushes planted closely together will make an excellent living hedge fence for your chickens, and they also help to attract pollinators. The grains from this plant are used to make sorghum flour, a gluten-free alternative that is often used in baking. Chickens generally know what is poisonous – as well as what’s good for them – and unlike humans, usually won’t overindulge on something that could make them sick. This plant is another commonly grown plant, and it’s actually viewed as a garden weed in many places! To see how to make a skin soothing salve using calendula, read the post here. Chickens need a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids to transfer that source to their eggs, which in turn is good for humans. Chickens love tender succulent greens. Rinse them daily until the sprouts are four inches tall, then let your chickens enjoy the feast. Your chickens can snack on the larvae of those pollinators, or they can eat the fruit of the tree (as well as the leaves) once it matures. They particularly live tender ones like kale, spinach, and chard, but they’ll eat plenty of lettuce, amaranth, roach, and spree, too. I have an Apricot Tree that was planted 4yrs ago “pre-chicken.” Siberian pea shrubs aren’t just gorgeous, but they also attract beneficial pollinators. If you choose to direct sow the seeds, plant 1/2 inch deep and thin to 12 inches when the seedlings are 3 inches high. You can harvest the berries to feed directly to your chickens, or you can let them graze among the bushes. However, since most of us don’t have that kind of space, you can plant seeds in rows 1 inch apart, and seeds 1 inch deep and harvest enough for a treat for your flock. We already mentioned using clover as a cover crop, but it serves as an excellent feed on its own, too, even when it’s not being grown as a cover crop. They are thought to help make the yolk a brighter color when you scatter some petals throughout their run. Having a flock of backyard chickens means fresh eggs, entertainment, and a sense of self reliance. Think about your flock size – if you only need a dozen chickens to supply enough eggs for your family, why are you raising fifteen? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Allowing some chickweed to take over an area will provide a delicious, mildly sweet treat for your flock to peck at. Add sage to the chicken feed, or grow it in abundance. Some chicken owners simply break the sunflower heads apart and give them to the chickens fresh. Perennial herb and common weed. Your chickens will love berries of all kind, and you don’t need to run to the store to buy these antioxidant-rich jewels, either. Melons, like honeydew and watermelon, are a great source of nutrition for your birds. Please seek professional help when needed. A cool season crop, it’s highly nutritious and a natural source of green fertilizer, adding nitrogen to the soil. Chicory. Cull unnecessary flock members – this might be tough for you to envision, but there might come a time when you need to either give away or cull old hens, old roosters, or chickens that are either genetically undesirable or unproductive. Currants are a great source of antioxidants and other nutrients for your chickens, and they will produce fruit all summer long. Consider planting a few varieties, like raspberries and blueberries. Common weed. If you want them to get every last berry, just make sure you plant a thorn less variety of berry. You can feed it directly to your chickens or sprinkle it on their food. A cold-hardy plant, you can keep spinach in containers outside well into the autumn months. Some greens can be grown in your chicken garden where your chickens are free to roam. It can be found in mixed pasture grasses. It can improve chicken health, particularly in the winter time when your girls are confined more often to the coop. Chickens will peck at the heads, getting a leafy treat while warding off boredom. Highly nutritious and well loved by chickens, alfalfa is common among many homesteaders for all their livestock. Not only will this provide your chickens with access to valuable nutrients and microbes but it will also till up your compost for you! Mixture includes: Annual Ryegrass, Perennial … Rob Ludlow is the owner of BackYardChickens.com, a top source on chicken raising, and the coauthor of Raising Chickens For Dummies. Properly identify these types of greens before eating them for human consumption. Weeds and cover crops can be some of the BEST things to feed to your chickens. You can give the chickens a cut pumpkin fresh from the vine. How is that poisonous to chickens. A common weed that you can find in nearly any open area, and in many backyards, chickweed is a floppy plant that grows in “mats” low to the ground.
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