Herbal and Natural Chicken Keeping for Beginners: Basics

Natural and herbal chicken keeping has become a very popular that backyard chicken keepers have been and are trying. Chicken keepers are trying to go all natural, by raising their flock with no antibiotics and chemicals. Instead they are using herbal treatments for disease and problems, and to keep bugs away. All natural chicken keepers also look at their flocks feed, buying no gmo grain and making sure it is not medicated. Lets go over the basics of this new trend of chicken keeping and how using herbs for your chickens is very beneficial.

What are Herbs

Herbs are plants that hold many benefits and essential oils that aid different parts of the body and help coat the immune system to protect from disease. Though herbs do not prevent disease, it does aid and build up the immune system giving the body a better chance of fighting of the virus or cold. Many herbs help many symptoms of colds or sickness, like some are antibacterial, some anti-inflammatory, and even natural pesticides. Herbs have been used for so many uses and are easy to grow and buy. Some herbs you can even find in your own yard!. Usually you can buy herbs already grown at your local plant store or if you prefer you can grow with seeds. Many people use salves, herbal teas, cleaners, and plasters for themselves but these can be used for your chickens as well for many health benefits.


Introducing herbs into your flock

Chickens love herbs, and, not only do they taste good, but they have so many health benefits for your animals! I love whipping up a batch of herbal tea, that is super easy and a great way to introduce herbs into your flocks diet. You can use herbs in the nesting boxes as an easy way to keep flies, mites, and ticks away from a laying hen. Using them in the layer feed works well, just dry herbs and mix them into the feed. Also planting herbs around the outside of the run helps run off insects. Here is a list of other ways to introduce herbs into your flock
-Tea
This is a great way to introduce herbs to younger chicks, but I give it to my adult flock as well. You can use any kind of herb you want, but I recommend scrolling down the page and see some herbs benefits to your flock and choose which ones sound best to you!

-in feed
This an easy way to get herbs into the whole flocks diet! Dry the herbs, crush them up, and serve them mixed in the feed. You can also serve them plain!

-in a treat
Whipping up homemade goodies with herbs for your flock is a yummy way to serve herbs!!

-in nesting boxes

A nice way to calm your hens, especially while they are laying eggs, is adding handfuls of herbs into the nesting boxes. I haven't had fresh herbs mold in the nests but you can always use dried herbs. The smell is very calming and helps a laying hen feel secure as well as a broody more determined

-around the run
Herbs planted around the run don't just smell nice but some repel insects, snakes, and spiders! Lemon Balm even keeps flies at bay!

-on the floor of the coop
Here it gives an sweet smelling smell and chickens love picking at them!!

-in the water

I make herbal tea for my flock, as well as putting leaves in their water

Herbs to use

Different herbs work in different ways and have different health benefits. Some favorites I like to use are below. There is ton more I didn't list though, so comment below any herbs you want to find out about, like how to use them, or about their essential oils.

 Oregano

Oregano plant

Oregano acts like a natural antibiotic, interestingly people are thinking of using oregano for that! It has many healing powers towards you and your chickens, like how it is an antifungal, antibacterial, and aids to the respiratory. Its essential oils help fight a nasty cold or lung infection in chickens as well as us. Oregano is surly the best natural antibiotic out there!



   

Basil

Basil. When you here that herbs name thoughts like 'oh, basil smells amazing!' or 'mmm basil has such great flavor!' Basil does indeed smell and taste good but there is much more use then that!! Basil acts as a natural pesticide, scaring of flies and ticks. Basil is also a antioxidant, which amazingly helps guard the body and helps prevent cancer. Yes chickens are susceptible for cancer, so I make it important to include basil in their diet.

 

 

Dill

 



Dill smells good, and yes it will remind you of dill pickles! Dill is a funny, fuzzy type of herb that is easy to grow! Dill is a great herb to give to your chickens as it helps with digestive health, diarrhea, and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. Dill, like basil, contains flavonoids,  which guard cells from harmful radiation. Also dill helps prevent arthritis, as that goes along with the ant-inflammatory

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parsley

 

Parsley is a nice herb for cooking. You can use parsley in spaghetti or soup to add flavor. Just like dill it works as an anti-inflammatory and helps prevent cancer. It also helps fight urinary tract infections and arthritis in your chickens feet, (yes that is possible!) It also has essences to help with heart health.

 

 

So as you can see, herbs have been used for a long time so why not let your pets get a benefit out of them!! Keep coming back to the blog for more on NATURAL CHICKEN KEEPING and find out more about it!!

 

Have a favorite herb?? comment below it and how you use it in your chickens diet!