Mary Allen
Many kitchen herbs are also good for the chickens. Cut to beak-size during the vegetation period and dried in winter, they are a welcome and healthy change for poultry.
Refine the lunch menu and also do something good for the chickens: kitchen herbs make it possible. Now they can be sown or planted. And if you don’t have your own garden, you can also plant the herbs in a flower box on the balcony.
One of the most common kitchen herbs that almost everyone grows in their own garden or on the balcony is parsley, which we usually just call parsley. Originally from the Mediterranean region, it is now grown almost everywhere in the world. It can be curly or smooth-leaved, with the former being much more common. It’s not just people who like parsley. It is also very valuable for chickens. It contains a lot of vitamin C, E, and provitamin A. In addition, the iron and calcium content is quite high.
The latter is very important for the shell formation of the eggs and the bone structure when rearing the chicks. The fact that Peter is also supposed to stimulate the appetite and promote digestion are additional pleasant side effects.
Chives are also found in many households. The Romans are said to have used it to relieve sunburn and sore throats. The plant, which belongs to the leek family, has many vitamins, especially vitamin C and a lot of potassium. The latter is needed for energy production, is involved in the regulation of the water-electrolyte balance, and also regulates the balance of acids and bases. It is also very important for the functioning of the heart and circulatory system and is also required for nerve stimuli, muscle contractions, and the kidneys.
Chives promote digestion, relieve flatulence, stimulate appetite, and have an antibacterial effect. The hens love to eat it and it can even be given to the chicks. Since it grows abundantly from spring to autumn, chives can also be dried and stored for the winter.
A Natural Antibiotic
Oregano makes its way onto pizza and is commonly used in Italian cuisine dishes. Few people know that the herb is also an excellent supplement for chickens. Oregano has an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect and is used primarily for diarrhea, colds, and respiratory problems. It also supports the functions of the stomach, intestines, liver, and bile. The herb is considered a completely natural antibiotic. It is fed to chickens fresh or dried as an addition to wet feed. Oregano is also available as a powder or oil in well-stocked specialist shops. Both can also be added to the chickens’ wet feed, and the oil can also be added to the drinking water.
While oregano is popularly referred to as pizza herb, marjoram is known as sausage herb because it is often mixed into sausage meat. But marjoram also has similar effects to oregano and has an antibacterial effect. In contrast to oregano, however, it is not hardy and must be sown again every year. The same goes for the annual basil, which has antibacterial properties and supports the health of the mucous membranes. It thrives very well in the warm season and keeps growing again after picking.
Chickens also like thyme. Its essential oil is one of its most important ingredients. In addition to thymol, it also contains linalool and geraniol – active ingredients that have an antiviral, antibacterial, and expectorant effect. The bitter and tannins contained in thyme as well as flavonoids and coumarins, which, like oregano and marjoram, have an antibiotic effect, are also considered herbal remedies.
Rosemary also contains many essential oils. It stimulates bile production and strengthens digestion. Although we think of them as needles, the rosemary has leaves that the chickens don’t eat easily. A small, cut addition to the wet food is, however, gladly accepted.
Peppermint Keeps Bugs Away
Sage is not only a well-known herb in the kitchen. Tea also helps with sore throat and pharynx. It can also be used effectively in poultry farming, either as tea or as chopped leaves. Sage has an antiseptic effect against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, as has been proven in laboratory tests.
Peppermint does not like to be eaten when it is undried. Hung up in bunches in the shade and dried, it is a welcome occupation for the animals in winter. It supports digestion, relieves loss of appetite, and is also effective against worm infestation. In addition, it exudes a pleasant smell in the chicken house and can also be placed in the laying nests, where it keeps vermin away. Peppermint should be cultivated in a pot, as it not only reproduces profusely in the garden but actually proliferates.