Spring is time to plant your garden. While you are preparing and planting, now is a great time to plant a chicken-safe garden for your flock. Your chickens will love to graze their own garden and will benefit from the nutrients from the plants. Here are 10 suggestions of plants your chickens will love.

Blueberry Bushes

Chickens love to eat fruit, especially blueberries. If you have a few extra blueberry bushes you can dedicate to your chickens, they will enjoy picking the blueberries right off the bush. Note though if you do have any blueberry bushes you don’t want your chickens to eat the blueberries off of, make sure you block them off with netting or fencing. Chickens eat quite a few blueberries quickly!

Clover/Alfalfa

Planting an area of clover and alfalfa will make a great place for your chickens to forage. The chickens will love the extra green treat.

Marigolds

Planting marigolds offers a few different benefits to your chickens. Planting marigolds around the chicken coop will help to repel insects from the coop. You can also put the Marigold flowers in the nesting boxes to repel insects in there. Your chickens will also enjoy eating them. It has been said that marigolds give your egg yolks a brilliant yellow color.

Squash

When planting squash for your family, make sure to grow a little extra for your chickens. Chicken enjoy pecking a squash. Winter squash such as pumpkins have lots of nutrients in the rind of the pumpkin. Some also believe the pumpkin seeds to be a natural dewormer.

Oregano

Another chicken-safe plant is oregano which is known for being a natural antibiotic. Many people feed their chickens oregano for vitamins E and K as well as calcium and antioxidants. Oregano is good for your chicken’s body!

Lavender

Lavender is great when placed in your chickens’ nesting box. Lavender is known to have a calming effect on your chickens. Lavender is also a great insecticide and will help to repel bugs from your chicken coop.

Dandelions

You may be thinking “what, leave the Dandelions?”, but the chickens actually like to eat the flowers of the Dandelions. In fact, they enjoy eating the entire plant.  Dandelions are a source of calcium and other vitamins as well. Next time you have a lot of Dandelions growing, leave them and let your chickens help you weed your yard and garden!

Sunflowers

Sunflower seeds are a great source of vitamin E for your chickens as well as magnesium which helps with muscle function and egg laying. Make sure to plant some extra sunflowers for your chickens.

Corn

Chickens benefit from corn in moderation. It is great in the winter for keeping your chickens warm and throwing them a cob makes a fun treat.

Mint

Mint is a fast and easy growing perennial. Mint is great for repelling insects and also thought to help keep your hens calmer–simply add some to your nesting boxes. Mint also helps to repel mice and is a great treat for your chickens during the summer. Mint has a natural, cooling effect.

Thyme

Thyme has many great uses with your flock. Not only can you put in in their bedding as an insect repellant, you can also steep with white vinegar and make a natural fly spray. Thyme is also great for your chickens to eat because it is thought to help with their respiratory health and has antioxidant, antibiotic and antibacterial properties.

Garlic

Garlic is easy to grow and has been used with chickens since Ancient Egyptian times. It is thought to help with your chickens laying rates (enhances reproductive health) and helps control parasites. Garlic also helps to treat infections and improves your flocks’ appetites. Simply crush it up fresh and add to their waterer.

Plant a few of these chicken-safe plants in your garden this spring and you will have happy chickens all year round!