Chooks are a joy to live with. Their unique personalities are wonderful to get to know and their antics are really entertaining.
Providing them with a varied and interesting diet is an important part of caring for chooks. Growing plants for their consumption is one way to provide a constant source of just what they need.
Chicken garden design
There are a few ways to design your garden to supply chooks with home grown pickings. Because they tend to destroy gardens and turn them into moonscapes the plants need some protection so the chickens can pick from them without taking out the whole plant.
One way is to have a rotating areas that chickens can only access once the plants have become established. While they are enjoying that area a new one can be planted up and established, after a while these can be alternated. By moving the position of the new garden each time it a becomes a variation on a 'chicken tractor' - whereby the chickens eat the plants, scratch up the soil, manure it and then move on to the next patch.
Another option is to allow the chooks to forage periodically in the food forest and to plant this up with the plants chickens love. In addition to it being good for them the chooks will manure and scratch up the ground around the fruit trees and devour the pests dwelling there any preventing them from attacking the trees. The chooks should only be allowed to do this for a couple of days at a time however because their scratching may damage the tree roots.
A more permanent option is to plant fruit trees and plants for chickens from just outside the chook pen so they can forage through the fence without causing too much damage to the plant itself. More plants can be added to them as they cut and brought from elsewhere.
Plants for the chicken garden
Choose a selection of plants for the chicken garden to serve a variety of purposes. The garden should be designed to meet chicken's nutritional needs as well as protection from pests and diseases and to provide shade and entertainment. As well as enjoying picking at the leaves and flowers they will enjoy eating some of the caterpillars and other creatures which are attracted to the plants.
Leafy greens
Leafy greens provide a lot of the nutrition required by chickens just as they do for us. Chooks really love them and thrive on a good variety of leafy greens. Plenty of leafy greens in their diet will also cause them to produce deeper coloured egg yolks. Some suggested plants for growing in around the chook pen are:
Alfalfa (Lucerne) - high in protein and other vitamins and minerals. This is best grown in the cooler times of the year.
Amaranth - the leaves are high in protein.
Bamboo - Provides both shade and nutritious leaves.
Cabbage - provides vitamin C and hydration for chickens as well as the odd caterpillar.
Chickweed - a common weed containing omega 3s and other beneficial vitamins and minerals.
Comfrey - high in calcium, potassium and protein. In particular it contains vitamin A and B12 which support healthy yolks.
Dandelion - The chooks will benefit from the calcium, iron and vitamins in dandelion leaves.
Grass - both the blades of grass and their seed provide plenty of goodness for chickens to feed on.
Nasturtium - The leaves are high in iron and vitamin C and vitamin A. They are also high in potassium which helps chicken's ability to withstand heat. Nasturtium leaves also have natural antibiotic qualities which help fight off disease.
Purslane - a common weed containing omega 3s and other beneficial vitamins and minerals
QLD Arrowroot - provides a windbreak for the chickens and they also enjoy nibbling on the leaves which are high in vitamins and minerals.
Radish - High in vitamins and minerals and helps keep chickens hydrated.
Sweet potato - They are rich in vitamin B, beta-carotene, iron, calcium, zinc and protein.
Vegetables
Growing vegetables that chickens will also enjoy and benefit from is very rewarding and will result in healthy happy chooks and highly nutritious eggs.
Corn - chooks love pecking the sweet corn off the cob.
Cucumbers - high water content so help keep chickens hydrated. The seeds act as a natural dewormer.
Garlic, garlic chives and onions - helps chicken resists pests including mites, intestinal worms and other parasites.
Peas - Chickens enjoy pecking green peas (including pigeon pea) which provide niacin, which is good for their bones and protein for their growth and general health
Pumpkin - a good source of antioxidants and beta carotene for chickens. The seeds act as a natural dewormer.
Radish - high in calcium and help keep chickens hydrated. The potassium in radishes also helps them cope with heat.
Zucchini - the seeds act as a natural dewormer and the flesh is full of nutrients.
Herbs
Herbs provide nutrients to chickens but their strong smelling oils also have insecticidal, fungicidal and anti-bacterial qualities which help deter mites and intestinal worms. Plant the fresh plants in or around the chicken run or lay cut sprigs in their bedding - especially in the nesting box.
Basil - has antibacterial properties which protect chickens from disease
Borage - high in vitamins A and C and good for their respiratory systems.
Calendula - a natural anti-inflammatory and antibiotic which helps to keep chickens healthy. When the chickens eat the petals it make the eggs yolks a richer colour.
Coriander - its anti-fungal properties help keep chicken's feathers healthy. It is also said to be good for their bones.
Dill - helps to keep chicken's respiratory systems strong
Fennel - an excellent source of vitamin C, phytonutrients and antioxidants. and also helps chickens withstand heat. Allow some of the plants to go to seed as they provide added nutrients.
Flat leaf parsley - contains many vitamins and minerals including vitamins A, C and K, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and zinc. Let the parsley plant go to seed and it will come again in the garden.
Lemon balm - the smell is said to be calming for chickens. It may also deter rats and mice.
Lemongrass - a great pest repellant. Cut stands and lay them in the chicken nesting area to deter mites, flies and other pests.
Mint - another herb which may deter rats and mice and is also good for chicken's respiratory system.
Oregano - can help minimise e.coli, salmonella, coccidiosis, and avian flu. It is highly valued as a natural antibiotic.
Rosemary - helps repel mites and other pests.
Sage - can help to prevent salmonella developing. It also is an antioxidant.
Thyme - this has antibacterial properties which can help keep chickens' respiratory system healthy.
Wormwood - helps control external and internal parasites. Let the chickens peck it and lay sprigs around their nesting area.
Seeds and grains
Bought chicken feed is made up mostly of grain. By growing your own you can save money and add variety to their diet
Amaranth - the seeds are very high in protein. They have almost twice the lysine, the essential amino acid usually found in dairy products, content of wheat and three times that of corn.
Cucumber - the seeds act as a natural dewormer
Pumpkin - as with cucumber and zucchini the seeds act as a natural dewormer
Sunflowers - high in protein, vitamin E and antioxidants. After the flowers have finished blooming let the seed heads dry out and feed to the chooks.
Zucchini - the seeds act as a natural dewormer
Trees and shrubs
Trees and shrubs provide shade and wind protection for chickens. Fallen fruit also attract insects which chickens enjoy - having the combined effect of cleaning up your crop to prevent future insect attack. The manure from the chickens will also in turn feed the plants.
Banana - chickens can eat the fruit, peel, leaves and stems of banana plants. Once each plant has finished fruiting the trunks can be cut down and thrown into the chicken pen where they will peck on them as they decomposed into the soil.
Fig - chickens will enjoy the odd fig that falls to the ground and they will also clean up bugs that may attack the tree.
Mulberry - the provide summer shade and then lose their leaves over winter allowing sunlight through. Both the leaves and fruit of the mulberry are good for chickens to eat.
Pawpaw (papaya) - helps control worms in chickens - it also has antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal properties, which helps keep chickens healthy.
Pigeon pea - the seed pods provide a good protein snack as they fall off the tree.
Vines
Allow vines to grow up the fence around the chicken pen for them to forage on and also to provide shade and protection from wind. Some of the useful vines to plant around the chook house include:
Ceylon spinach - High in iron, calcium, vitamin A and C.
Choko - the chickens will enjoy eating the leaves and shoots.
Cucumber - as well as enjoying pecking on the leaves the chickens will benefit from eating the fruit as they contain a lot of water and the seeds are a natural dewormer.
Dragon fruit - the vines need a strong support as they are quite heavy and benefit from the structure of a chook pen to grow up. The
fruits are a great occasional treat for chickens which is high in antioxidants.
Grapes - as with any sweet fruit they should only be given to chickens in moderation but they are high in vitamins and minerals. The chickens will also benefit from the summer shade provided by the vines and the fact that they lose their leaves in winter allowing the sun through.
Passionfruit - passionfruit leaves are edible and contain vitamin A and C. They will also enjoy enjoy pecking at the odd fallen fruit.
Raspberry - the chickens will find them delicious and they are high in vitamin C.
Flowers
There are a range of edible flowers that people can enjoy and chickens enjoy them too. Most of the flowers that are edible to humans are also edible to chickens. some of these include:
Brassicas - the flowers of vegetables in this family can be enjoyed by chooks. These include broccoli, Asian greens, mustard, cabbage, kale, cauliflower and kohlrabi.
Cucurbits - the flowers of plants in this family are also a tasty morsel for chickens. Examples include pumpkin, zucchini, cucumber, squash and watermelon.
Dandelion - the yellow flower improves the colour of the egg yolk.
Echinacea - stimulates chicken's immune system and prevent internal parasites
Geranium - both the leaves and flowers are fine for chickens to eat but avoid deep pinks and reds as it may affect the colour of the egg yolks adversely.
Herb flowers - the flowers of herbs in the chicken garden are also completely safe for chickens to peck on.
Lavender - helps keep the chicken run smelling nice and may also have a calming effect on the chickens. Marigolds - contain antioxidants and carotenoids which protect chicken's health and make the eggs yolks a richer colour.
Nasturtium - both the leaves and flowers are edible for chickens.
Rose - both the petals and the hips that develop once the flower dries up are good for chickens to eat.
Plants to avoid in the chicken garden
Some plants may be harmful to chickens if they are allowed to eat them and so should not be included in the area where they can peck from. These include:
the leaves of eggplant, tomato, chilli and capsicum
Unripe tomatoes
Raw beans
The skins of avocado are also bad for chickens