I often feel free-range chickens destroy backyard plants to their access.
Whether they scratch the roots of the growing vines or plants or peck them to eat produce such as fruits or leaves so that you need to find other veggies for your food.
If you’re dealing with the same, I have some plants chickens don’t EAT. Let’s see!
1. Lavender
As a good homesteader, I want my backyard to have some herbs. I always consume them in my food for their health benefits.
You can even grow such plants around the coop to make the setting more native for the birds.
Anyway, the first thought that comes to me is Lavender. Chickens often avoid it because of its strong fragrance and essential oils in the leaves.
Also, it’s okay and no harm to the birds, even if they happen to consume this herb.
Lavenders also repel pests, attract pollinators, and add a pleasant scent to the garden or the surroundings. They also provide good flavor to the meal and health benefits if consumed.
You can grow them in a container or on the ground.
They thrive in full sun, well-draining soil, and low maintenance.
2. Rosemary
We place rosemary in the drawer and closet sachets to prevent moths and pests.
In the same way, keepers can also hang some rosemary branches inside the coop. Also, growing them around the runner or coop is safe.
You can try bush varieties.
Whether they are climbing, trailing, or creeping, the chicken flock only finds the plants, and only a resting place. The birds like to perch and snooze under the climbing varieties.
They neglect the plants because of their woody stems and pungent aroma.
However, these herbs have several benefits. They make excellent culinary and drought-tolerant herbs, repel pests, and do wonders in the backyard and garden.
Rosemary only needs full sun, well-drained soil, adequate watering, and occasional pruning.
3. Sage & Basil
I like sage and basil, so they grow every year like weeds. Once you plant the seeds, they will grow for many years without any effort from the gardener.
Also, you can use the leaves of plants in your culinary items.
It’s okay to place these herbs in the runner. Dried or alive, they help prevent harmful bacteria, filamentous fungi, and yeasts.
Chickens’ poop is always at stake around the shelter and roaming area to make them sick.
Besides, the herbs’ strong aroma refreshes the air and reduces the poultry smell, which is good for both birds and keepers.
Don’t worry—flocks won’t eat sage and basil, which even boosts the backyard display. The woody herbs stand tall, 3 feet, in pots or on the ground.
4. Roses
Want some ornamental plants in the club?
Roses are delicate and can accommodate your backyard and be near the coop. They can provide you with a vine a pleasant garden with cool looking animals.
When chickens lay colored eggs, there won’t be more lovely scenery in the homestead.
Anyway, the birds don’t go near the roses because of the busy structure with woody and thorny stalks. Also, the flowers bloom above their reach.
Oh! I forgot to mention that growing these flowers a bit away from their usual sitting or hanging out place. You don’t want your birds to harm themselves when foraging.
5. Zinnia
Zinnias are also a safe addition to the backyard or near poultry farms.
The blooms are non-toxic and have no harm for chickens, even if they nibble on them. But the birds don’t find the flowers tasty and appealing, so they just ignore them.
It’s good for keepers and gardeners to grow flowers near the coop. Zinnias are annuals and ground cover plants.
So, if you don’t want them next year, you don’t need to make any efforts. You only need to prune and deadhead the flowers during their blooming time.
Though your hens won’t eat zinnias, you can easily put them on the table for food.
I guess a good salad or brewing tea would be nice!
6. Butterfly Bush
If you live in the USDA Hardiness Zone 5 – 10, you will be able to grow butterfly bush.
They are the dream plants for pollinators, including butterflies. So you find your garden filled with many small flying creatures in search of nectar.
Butterfly bushes take 1 – 2 growing seasons to mature and bloom for a long time.
As they grow 5 – 10 feet, chickens find a resting place after foraging. The bush provides cone flowers in large amounts and shade for the domestic birds.
And your birds don’t harm the plant, so you can safely place them in their runs.
7. Mint
Every homesteader needs to have some mint in the garden or backyard for several benefits.
And the good news is that backyard chickens don’t eat this herb. They don’t even touch the plant because of its strong, overpowering scent.
See, I am a very cold, allergic person, so I keep mints with me often.
You can plant mint in the spring after the last frost and grow it anywhere indoors and outdoors. I suggest you grow them in the containers, as mints spread aggressively.
Also, you will get the produce in a short time, as mints are fast-growing herbs.
Besides, they repel rodents and insects and offer culinary uses.
8. Yarrow
Chickens can peck yarrow plants, but it’s their favorite.
Yarrow is a natural deterrent plant because of its bitter taste and tough texture. They keep away herbivores like chickens and harmful pests.
Besides, they are perennial windflowers that make great assets to open fields, ornamental gardens, roadsides, and prairies.
The flowers also prevent drought, invite butterflies, and are excellent for cutting and drying for several purposes.
They bloom in several colors to act as ornamental flowers and herbs. You can grow them in the full sun or partial sun, but at least 3 hours of sunlight is needed.
9. Onion & Garlic
I’m not a big fan of garlic, though I want onions in my meals very often.
But I grow both vegetables for my family and for several culinary purposes. And I openly place the container plants in the backyard without worrying about poultry.
They can climb the garden bed, but don’t scratch the earth until they find weeds growing around the plants.
I know, onion and garlic has a pungent smell and strong taste; these birds don’t peck and drag the leaves and bulbs.
Also, you wouldn’t waste pesticides as they are natural pest deterrents, and hence organic produce. It is also easy to grow these veggies.
They only need full sun, well-drained soil, and regular watering.
Unlike other vegetables, I find onion soaking fertilizer overly and more nutrients from the soil. So, you need a complete makeover to fertilize the soil for the next season.
10. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a tropical herb that has several uses, especially in recipes. They make great soup, sauces, and tea.
You can grow them to herbify your chicken coop.
These herbs repel flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects. Also, it would help the keepers when sanitizing the chicken shelters.
Another thing is that lemongrass has established its roots strongly enough to withstand foraging and scratching from chickens.
Many keepers share that these birds enjoy festing on lemongrass leaves; my chickens leave them without harming.
Also, these herbs don’t have any negative effects on them, even if consumed.
Final Thoughts
I know. Chickens run to peck and drag anything that comes their way if they don’t find good forages and pastures.
If your birds are aggressively voracious, you need to fence your plants to prevent them from accessing them. I find the safe ones are herbs that have no harmful effects on poultry birds, even when consumed.
You can also grow trees for shade, but don’t grow common veggies such as kale, squash, beets, broccoli, carrots, etc.
Leave a Reply