The Amazing Benefits of Marigolds for Your Chickens

Marigolds are versatile plants that can serve various purposes in gardening, such as deterring pests, attracting pollinators, and beautifying a landscape. However, marigolds also provide unique benefits for chicken keepers. It’s remarkable when one plant can do so many jobs! The term “marigold” encompasses many plants, each with distinct characteristics and uses. We’ll explore some of the most common types of marigolds and how they can benefit your flock.

Calendula Officinalis: Pot Marigold

First, let’s talk about Calendula officinalis. This plant is also known as Pot Marigold, Common Marigold, and Calendula, among other names. It is popular as an annual but most find it to return yearly, as it tends to self-seed if some flowers are left in place over the winter. 

Calendula belongs to the Asteraceae family. It tends to grow to heights and widths of about 1 to 2 feet each, but there are dwarf varieties available too. The flower size can be 3-6 inches with single or double flower heads. Flowers may be golden yellow, orange or reddish burgundy and may have contrasting darker center disks.

Health Benefits for Chickens

Calendula Officinalis can help the digestive tract, is considered a natural anti-inflammatory, can boost immune function, and assists wound healing when used topically. (It’s an ingredient in products like Green Goo Animal First Aid Salve.) Calendula Officinalis has omega-3s, B complex vitamins, and fat-soluble vitamins E and K. 

• How to Use: This can be mixed into feed or offered freely. It is more common to eat the flowers than the leaves, but both are edible. Dried flowers can be saved to use during the cold winter and in spring before new flowers bloom.

Egg Yolk Color

Marigolds, including calendula, contain pigments called xanthophylls, which are carotenoids and, combined with the nutrients listed above, are responsible for enhancing egg yolks’ deep orange color. Feeding marigold petals or even their extracts to chickens has been shown to improve yolk pigmentation naturally.

Tagetes: French, African, Mexican, and Signet Marigolds

Now let’s talk about French (Tagetes patula),  Mexican, African or American Marigolds (Tagetes erecta) and Signet Marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia). These varieties are commonly used in landscapes as annuals because of their relatively easy care and vibrant colors ranging from yellows to oranges and reds.

Benefits for Chickens

• Egg Yolk Enhancement: Like calendula, the blooms of Tagete species are rich in xanthophylls, which can deepen the orange color of egg yolks when the chickens are fed fresh or dried marigold petals or marigold extract.
• Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties: The flowers contain compounds that promote blood vessel and tissue regeneration while reducing inflammation.
• Pest Control: Marigolds can deter pests around the coop and in the nest boxes when sprinkled in or mixed into the bedding.
• Pollinator Attraction: During the growing season, they can help attract pollinators and beneficial insects, improving the ecosystem around your chicken coop.

Cautions

While the flower heads are useful and even beneficial to chicken keepers, be aware some varieties and parts of the plant, like leaves or stems, may be toxic to dogs or cats and may cause some skin irritation to humans. These are just some types of marigolds and their uses. Always double-check to make sure the specific type of marigold you use is safe for chickens, all other animals that might interact with them, and that you handle them with care.

Incorporating marigolds into your chicken-keeping routine can benefit your flock’s health, improve egg quality, and create a more vibrant and pest-resistant coop environment. Whether you choose one of the varieties mentioned here or a different one, these versatile plants can make an excellent addition to any backyard flock’s care plan.