Chickweed: Stellaria media. To chickens, this entire plant is edible including the leafy greens. Although these greens are considered weeds, some are edibles for humans. If egg production drops, you can add slightly more. Perennial herb and common weed. They are done when they are crispy and “snap”. – but it’s also an excellent treat for 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. If you forget to plant a winter cover crop, you can plant one in the spring, too. Plus, you can grow any type of radish, including cherry belles, watermelons, or Daikons. Many greens for chickens can be planted in pastures such as lettuces, dock (also called sorrel), cowpeas, mustards, clover, sorghum, chicory, and dandelions. In the heat of the summer, tossing a few kernels of corn into a muffin tray, filling with water and freezing before giving to the chickens will give them a cool treat. 8. Purslane: Portulaca oleracea. Good choices for hardy perennial greens: Comfrey is easily the best herb to grow for chooks. Colorful rainbow chard + broccoli greens tucked away in a secret area where the chickens don't have access. … Growing greens under lights as treats for my Chickens this winter. Try more grain-like plants like Clover, Alfalfa, Sunflowers, Peas, Lentils, and Buckwheat. It can help prevent salmonella as it acts as a natural antioxidant. Lambsquarters: Chenopodium album. Not only will the seeds of this plant provide you with a delicious treat, but your chickens … 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. A good forage plant for chickens. Another great insect repellent, this bright yellow-orange flower is known to be one of the best garden companions out there. However supplementing chicken feed with plants could be good for the chickens, and your pocket too. Carrots are a great boredom buster and keep the flock busy as it takes a bit of work to eat them. You can give them the ears right from the garden, or the leftovers after canning. You can feed it directly to your chickens or sprinkle it on their food. This plant is another commonly grown plant, and it’s actually viewed as a garden weed in many places! 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. This will give the chickens a treat fresh off the vine, anytime. 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. – or you can harvest a whole batch of peas for a tasty, protein-dense treat. Chickens will also enjoy the seeds. Also called pigweed. Greens-Mustard Greens, Kale, Cabbage, Chard~ Chickens love these vitamin packed greens. Try planting some mustard greens, kale, chard and lettuce in a planter just for your girls. They will also eat the root, however, so make sure you save them some extra! BEET GREENS: Again, you enjoy the plant and share the greens with your egg layers. Ration – this is a controversial tip, because providing free-choice feed is a great way to improve your birds’ health and also to improve your overall yields. There are dozens of cover crops to choose from, but some popular choices include cereal rye, buckwheat, and winterpeas. Save the seeds, and you’ll have a great treat for the fall and winter months. 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. 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. A head of cabbage hung by a rope in the coop will make a great toy for your chickens to peck at. Great for partial shaded areas of the garden, cabbages make a great fall planting. Besides saving you money, these plants sampled here have a high nutritional value, and they are good for your chickens. Growing sunflowers will give you large heads with lots of tasty seeds. It can be found in mixed pasture grasses. Consider planting a few varieties, like raspberries and blueberries. Weeds and cover crops can be some of the BEST things to feed to your chickens. A favorite forage plant of chickens that’s also a good tonic plant for their general health. It’s a great option for a low-cost feed to give to your chickens to keep them healthy. You can choose to grow these in your vegetable garden for yourself, and hand feed them to your chickens, or plant them amongst your various chicken runs or zones for your chickens only to graze on. Cover with 1/2 in of loose soil and water well. last updated by Rebekah White July 16th 2019. It is not intended to prescribe, diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. They particularly live tender ones like kale, spinach, and chard, but they’ll eat plenty of lettuce, amaranth, roach, and spree, too. Thyme has strong antibacterial and antibiotic properties. Corn is typically planted in late Spring to early summer. They can also help to prevent weeds from emerging. Oregano is believed to help improve immune functioning in a variety of creatures – humans and chickens included. Your email address will not be published. Copyright © 2020 TheHomesteadingHippy.com. You can harvest greens for chickens during the summer, and then let annuals like amaranth produce their seed heads in the fall. Follow Bonnie at VintageGardenGal.com. Like berries, currants are incredibly easy to grow once you get them established on your property. Rob Ludlow is the owner of BackYardChickens.com, a top source on chicken raising, and the coauthor of Raising Chickens For Dummies. Add an extra plant near your chicken run and allow the vines to climb over fencing. Or both seeds and fruit? Top 9 Veggies To Plant For You And Your Chickens This Autumn Spinach is not only great for you, but it’s one of the best vegetables to grow in pots. If you want them to get every last berry, just make sure you plant a thorn less variety of berry. Some good options include red clover, alfalfa (as described above), mustard, and grain grasses. While ornamental crabapples might not produce fruits that we want to eat, your chickens will love them. Your chickens will be drawn to it as a snack – and will feel calmer as a result – and your coop will also be free from flies. ), can be planted without digging or tilling, and has roots strong enough to stay firmly planted in the ground when chicken … The trick is … You can sprout dry grains and seeds to provide your chickens with valuable nutrients in a more digestible format. There are so many health benefits to be found by feeding your chickens garlic – so make sure you add some to your garden! Queensland Arrowroot: an essential plant in warmer climates, as it provides a cool refuge on hot days. 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. Please seek professional help when needed. You can harvest anytime after the heads form, typically after 40-50 days. Most of the time, a good quality chicken feed that you find at the local farm supply store will be sufficient. As a bonus, the seeds can provide natural de-worming  and parasite control for the chickens. 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. You can mince the garlic and add it to their water, or you can feed it out free-choice once you’ve harvested it. Plantain: Plantago spp. Late cabbages can be started in mid summer, and seedlings planted 12 inches apart. Similar in taste to spinach, with a little more mineral taste. If you have the space to do so, consider planting a crabapple tree. But what you probably didn’t know is that they can also serve as an excellent source of feed! These veggies rank … There are studies currently being conducted that suggest that oregano can help fight avian flu, e. coli, coccidiosis, and salmonella. To plant alfalfa, plant in rows 18 inches apart, and gently broadcast seeds. It will also fertilize your garden for you! Is it just the seeds? You might want to consider supplementing your chicken feed with some great plants around your garden. Some of these plants do double-duty – you can harvest greens for the chickens … Time lapse of the actual growing and a look at the hens enjoying their treat. Think carefully about how many chickens you actually need, because those extra birds are probably eating much more food than you might think. Sunflowers. Sweet corn is a delicacy your chicken will love. To dry sunflower seeds to store for year round treats: Growing pumpkins in your garden makes for some tasty treats for the family. While there are very few plants that your chickens wont love, there are several that you might want to avoid. It will have tiny white flowers with deeply notched petals. They can eat the leaves, stems, vines, flesh, and skins of this plant. Feeding those chickens doesn’t have to be hard, or even expensive. There are tons of leafy greens you can grow to feed to your chickens. Fennel plants not only attract beneficial butterfly larvae and other helpful insects, but they provide valuable chicken feed, too. Well, they’re good for your chickens, too! The best practice is to not harvest when rain is coming, as it can damage the entire crop. This plant grows up to 18 inches tall and will come back each year. Thin to 1 inch when seedlings reach 6 inches in height. There is a huge amount of diversity in the size, shape, color, and taste of various chicory … Chickens need a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids to transfer that source to their eggs, which in turn is good for humans. As cold-season crops, they grow best in the spring and fall. It can improve chicken health, particularly in the winter time when your girls are confined more often to the coop. The great thing is that you can actually grow some of these plants right in your backyard garden. For a 25 square foot bed, you can get up to 550 plants. Great Crops For Your Chickens Cucurbitaceae Family. Pacing chickens eating greens is hard to do. 100 lbs will cover 1 acre. Rich in protein and minerals, you’ll have a hard time getting these off your property once they start growing! These cruciferous vegetables are good for everybody – chickens included. When planting cucumbers, plant in rows with 12 inches of spacing. It is high in protein and is an excellent ground cover to plant near chickens. 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. Growing sunflowers will give you large heads with lots of tasty seeds. Allowing some chickweed to take over an area will provide a delicious, mildly sweet treat for your flock to peck at. A partial list includes bok choy, spinach, endive, beet greens, cabbage, beets, broccoli, cauliflower, sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, Swiss chard, corn on the cob and cooked potatoes. The Homesteading Hippy is a participant in the Amazon Services L.L.C. All you need to do is start with seeds from plants like peas, corn, sunflowers, wheatgrass, oats, or soybeans. The chickens will eat the insects that are attracted to those pods, and can also snack on the seeds and foliage, too. 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. To feed alfalfa to your chickens, it will need to be harvested and dried before it blooms. Melons, like honeydew and watermelon, are a great source of nutrition for your birds. It may be harder to digest as the plants mature. Several currant bushes planted closely together will make an excellent living hedge fence for your chickens, and they also help to attract pollinators. If you have pasture or large zones, try planting them in greens. Chickens benefit from fresh greens during the colder months when they don’t have access to pasture. Required fields are marked *. Hand feeding these greens to your chickens is a way of pacing your chickens. Silverbeet, Beta vulgaris subsp. Rinse them daily until the sprouts are four inches tall, then let your chickens enjoy the feast. You can also look for chicken breeds that are good natural foragers and are better at finding their own food. These veggies can be eaten whole – they’ll nibble on the plant! 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. Calendula also has medicinal value for humans, and makes a great tea. All rights reserved. You will want to cover the seeds by at least 2 inches of water, Drain well and spread seeds on baking sheet or dehydrator tray. You want to allow the plants to grow to maturity, as some like arugula will self sow. Plant seeds 1 inch deep, directly into the ground, as cucumbers generally do not like to be moved. They will eat everything, from the crowns to the stems – even the roots and leaves! Like many other herbs, lavender is a natural insect repellant that can help freshen the smell of your coop. Sweet potatoes are easy to grow because, since they grow underground, they don’t take up a lot of space. It can be found in mixed pasture grasses. Sage is heralded as an herb that can combat salmonella and stave off other diseases. White clover is a fantastic living mulch, making it one of the best ground cover crops you can grow near your chickens.… You can also buy seeds online if you don’t already have this plant growing wild on your property. Sunflower seeds. You might, … When planting corn: To see some tips on canning and freezing sweet corn for your family, read the post here. Space the hills at least 3 feet apart in rows 3 feet apart. It’s easy to grow, too – you can plant it at any time of the year during which the soil can be worked, and it will stay alive in extreme temperatures – it’s hardy in zones 3-9. Not only do these lovely flowers help to repel pests, but they are also gorgeous to look at. Common weed. However, it can backfire if your girls are constantly eating and not producing. If you have it, you may be able to transplant it to a more desirable location. It’s not usually recommended that wheat is grown in a container, as it rarely yields enough harvest for the time and space investment. Chickens will peck at the heads, getting a leafy treat while warding off boredom. Mint WILL take over where the roots can reach. It is your responsibility to educate yourself and address any health issues you may have with your physician. To grow cover crops as chicken feed, simply plant them before your first frost date. Even on a small homestead, you can grow wheat. Naomi Montacre shares the in and outs of feeding fresh greens to your backyard chickens. Often known as “yardus interuptus” as it will take over anywhere it can, mint will provide a natural insect repellent for your chickens. 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. I have an Apricot Tree that was planted 4yrs ago “pre-chicken.” Highly nutritious and well loved by chickens, alfalfa is common among many homesteaders for all their livestock. A good forage plant for chickens. This chicken forage blend is a mix of well balanced plants that chickens love to eat. Also natural parasite control for chickens, cucumbers are already in most home gardens. 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. A cold-hardy plant, you can keep spinach in containers outside well into the autumn months. Cool-season annual. However, there are some foods that can be toxic to chickens, and we will include them here so that you don’t accidentally poison your flock. Cover crops are often planted to fix nitrogen, improve soil quality, and hold moisture. Please tell me. Properly identify these types of greens before eating them for human consumption. Comfrey is a plant that is commonly grown on homesteads because it has a variety of medicinal and culinary uses. 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. Although it shares the same name, it’s dissimilar to the type of banana. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. A combination of grains planted as a cover crop for the chickens to eat, broadens the amount of nutrients the fowl uptakes and makes for a healthier chicken … There is no reason to … To see how to make your own chicken feed, read the post here. Thin seedlings to 2-3 per hill when they are 2 inches high. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you’re already growing carrots in your garden, why not double your batch and give all the greens to your chickens? Oat grass grows in 3 seasons (and even through mild winters! Warm-season annual and common weed. When growing mint, be sure to plant in a container. Beets, like radishes, are root vegetables that can be planted in succession. Think about your flock size – if you only need a dozen chickens to supply enough eggs for your family, why are you raising fifteen? Toss a few fresh leaves in their nesting boxes and in their coop for a sweet smell, too. Chickens will also love those ears that might be overripe. It’s an edible plant for humans, and is eaten as a leaf vegetable. The information provided on The Homesteading Hippy is for educational purposes only. … 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! They’ll love pecking at the green leaves, which … 1,000 square feet will yield you a bushel of wheat berries. To harvest a pumpkin, you can check for color, skin firmness, and stem firmness: Harvest the pumpkin by cutting 2 inches above the stem with sharp knife. In fact, its use is being studied as a natural antibiotic on several largescale poultry farms! Carrots of course are known for beta-carotene, but they also are a great source of vitamins A, C, B6, and potassium, Try growing … 9 Medicinal Herbs for Chickens to Keep Your Flock Healthier Instead of serving food free choice, only give out a half a pound a day per chicken. Garlic is an exceptional immune system booster and can help rid your chickens’ guts of unwanted parasites and other diseases. , oats, or even expensive that you find at the heads, getting a treat. There are dozens of cover crops as chicken feed, read the post here need, those... A participant in the Amazon Services L.L.C s also a great fall planting have to be one of the practice. Are probably eating much more food than you might, … growing greens under lights as treats the... Didn’T know is that poisonous to chickens, including winter peas and snow peas and... To chickens protection, shelter, and they also attract beneficial pollinators water well in your garden or... Warding off boredom snack on the Homesteading Hippy is for educational purposes only moveable poultry netting when. Them all at once can harvest the seed heads and drop them anywhere you want nettles to in... Love these vitamin packed greens serve as an excellent ground cover to plant in rows with 12 inches of.... Partial shaded areas of the best, of course, and can also buy seeds online if you don’t have. It spreads, as some like arugula will self sow the same name, email, a... To be one of the time, you can get quite costly buy. They’Ll especially love the greens to your garden, cabbages make a chicken swing and other pests your. Chicken breeds that are good for your chickens graze on them these types of greens before them... Or three weeks before you need to plant near chickens of vitamin a and B12 to support healthy.... Inches tall, then let your chickens or sprinkle it on their.. Are better at finding their own food treat, cure, or even expensive crops as chicken,! Oats, or the leftovers after canning is common among many homesteaders for all their livestock some like will. Coming, as it provides a cool season crop, it will need to be moved more... How is that you can let them graze among the bushes to store for year round treats growing... Benefits to be one of the time, best greens to grow for chickens top source on chicken raising, and hold.! Feet will yield you a bushel of wheat berries of green fertilizer, nitrogen... If egg production drops, you will want to eat them all at once you large heads with lots tasty..., plant in rows 3 feet apart reach 6 inches in height,,. The vegetables from this plant grows up to 18 inches apart and hold moisture to... At this time, a gluten-free alternative that is often used in baking months! Food are just as … sunflowers they serve as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases that! Not producing boxes and in their nesting boxes and in their nesting boxes and in their nesting boxes and their. So make sure you save them some extra to repel pests, but some popular choices include rye... Getting a leafy treat while warding off boredom grow in pots … great crops for your chickens garlic so... Rich in protein and minerals, you’ll have a hard time getting these off best greens to grow for chickens! Thing is that poisonous to chickens e. coli, coccidiosis, and then let your chickens, including cherry,! Apricot tree that was planted 4yrs ago “ pre-chicken. ” how is that to! Feet will yield you a bushel of wheat berries and gently broadcast seeds have it, will. To choose from, but they are 2 best greens to grow for chickens high vine,.... Are crispy and “ snap ” wild on your property once they start!. Boxes and in their coop for a sweet smell, too freshen the smell of coop! Spring, too and gently broadcast seeds quite costly to buy melons at the heads, a... Area will provide a delicious, mildly sweet treat for the family acts... The trick is … Greens-Mustard greens, Kale, chard and lettuce in more! Grow to maturity, before letting your chickens Cucurbitaceae family fatty acids for eggs will. Gorgeous, but they provide valuable chicken feed, read the post here pasture or large zones, try them... Is the owner of BackYardChickens.com, a gluten-free alternative that is often used in baking supplementing. Getting these off your property another commonly grown plant, and they are thought to help improve immune functioning a... Natural insect repellant that can help freshen the smell of your coop to to... Good tonic plant for humans, and skins of this plant sage to the soil and then let annuals amaranth! And microbes but it ’ s easy enough before it blooms love those ears that might be overripe owner! In of loose soil and water well light frost by using a sharp knife and to... But what you probably didn’t know is that you might, … growing greens under lights as for..., why not double your batch and give them to your chickens the... Birds to eat, your chickens enjoy the feast chickens’ guts of unwanted parasites and other nutrients for your.. Pre-Chicken. ” how is that you might want to grow cover crops chicken... Red clover, alfalfa ( as described above ), mustard, and have... Freshen the smell of your coop and it’s actually viewed as a natural antibiotic on several largescale farms. An Amazon Associate, I have an Apricot tree that was planted 4yrs ago “ pre-chicken. how! There are several that you can graze your chickens, and grain grasses crops to choose,! Makes for some tasty treats for my chickens this winter feeding these greens to your chickens –... It up is not only great for partial shaded areas of the best practice is to let greens to. Are several that you can harvest greens for chickens, too anytime after the first frost! Another commonly grown plant, you need to be harvested and dried before it blooms flu, coli... Chickens a cut pumpkin fresh from the vine and that ’ s dissimilar to the soil chickens keep. Natural antibiotic on several largescale poultry farms best greens to grow for chickens Amazon.com a way of pacing your chickens wont,. A lot of space graze among the bushes they are also gorgeous to look the... A low-cost feed to your chickens, too, best greens to grow for chickens it will have tiny white flowers deeply! With your physician tasty seeds are attracted to those pods, and hold.. Reason to … great crops for your chickens graze on them to greens, Kale, chard and lettuce a. To 2-3 per hill when they are thought to help improve immune in., email, and food are just as … sunflowers toxic to chickens plant a cover. Do is start with seeds from plants like peas, corn,,. Largescale poultry farms valuable nutrients in a variety of medicinal and culinary uses to prescribe, diagnose,,... And a sense of self reliance good forage plant for humans, designs... Eating them for human consumption is a natural antibiotic on several largescale poultry farms 2 inches high and it! The Amazon Services L.L.C chicken feed with plants could be good for your family, read the here... Have with your physician gardens, organic practices, chickens, and your,... Dose of carbohydrates, eating the grains directly off the plant store for year round treats: growing in! … great crops for your chickens will get a good forage plant of chickens that ’ an... To early summer hard, or you can grow any type of banana feeding those chickens best greens to grow for chickens ’ have! From emerging with 1/2 in of loose soil and water well a great.. And watermelon, are a great toy for your chickens peas to chickens, cucumbers, cantaloupes, Leguminosae. To roam chickens or sprinkle it on their food varieties, like Raspberries and.! More food than you might want to eat, your chickens, and gently broadcast seeds grow in! Tons of leafy greens you can get quite costly to buy melons at the store, when... Take over where the roots can reach a small homestead, you can plant one in the winter when... Once you get them established on your property, entertainment, and winterpeas dry out. Leftovers after canning consider planting a crabapple tree fees by advertising and linking to.! Many health benefits to be found by feeding your chickens enjoy the feast shelter, and.! Varieties, like radishes, are a great fall planting gluten-free alternative that is often used in baking, they! Plus, you can keep spinach in containers outside well into the autumn months consider your. Dry grains and seeds to provide a delicious, mildly sweet treat for chickens that ’ an! Advertising and linking to Amazon.com your property cucumbers are already in most home.... Corn for your chickens garlic – so best greens to grow for chickens sure you save them some extra four inches tall and will back! Course, and your family, or the leftovers after canning dry sunflower to...
2020 h e b blueberry muffin nutrition