We all know I’m a fan of herbs in the coop…..but I get lots of questions from readers about exactly HOW to use herbs in the coop.
You can always put them in nesting boxes or feed….or you can try any of these ideas!
We collected these 8 inspirational and beautiful ways you can keep fresh and dried herbs in your chicken coop!
Every coop needs a little red wagon
I bet the chicks in this photo adore their perch near these herbs, and the wagon is adorable! The best part is how easy it is to change herbs and/or flowers based on the season!
The marigolds are a wonderful way to keep pests away, and I bet the cilantro smells great!
Just be sure to keep the herbs themselves fed with compost if you want them to last all season!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BlMiXJ8Fef9/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
Hang herbs upside down!
Hanging herbs upside down is a great way to dry them….and it’s also a great way to provide the benefits of herbs to your flock!
Drying herbs is also a great way to preserve them for the winter – when your flock will REALLY appreciate the greens! It’s a great way to brighten a boring, cold day in the coop!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjQbIXtAqbl/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
https://www.instagram.com/p/BjQZTOcgyrd/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
https://www.instagram.com/p/BJqrHy4AYo7/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
Make grazing bins from stock tanks
You probably know you can make pools from stock tanks, and you probably know you can make grazing boxes (if not, here’s my free grazing box plans for backyard chickens), but did you know you can make stock tanks INTO grazing bins?
These would be a great addition to any coop. You’ll just have to make a few of them and rotate the bins – otherwise, your flock will eat all the herbs in 10 minutes, and scratch the roots out in the next 20 minutes!
Build a raised bed “Salad Bar”
How cute is this idea? The rocks are perfect for retaining moisture, and the hens can nibble on the flowers or herbs!
Be sure to pick a place in the run that gets full sun, so you have lots of different flower/herb options!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BVoCbDtg1B9/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
https://www.instagram.com/p/385JNpuI4k/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
Add them to nesting boxes….along with FRESH shavings!
It’s always beautiful seeing sparkling clean nesting boxes with fresh shavings AND herbs! Hens love them too!
You can add fresh herbs or dried – the choice is up to you! (If you want dried herbs, you can check out our nesting herbs right here. LOTS of 5 STAR reviews!)
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLy7HzEBI92/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
Just toss ’em in there, and let the hens have at ’em!
If you’re pressed for time, or just have a LOT of herbs, then just toss them into the coop. The hens will know what to do with them!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BmR9IRQhrGO/?hl=en&tagged=herbsforchickens
Maat van Uitert is a backyard chicken and sustainable living expert. She is also the author of Chickens: Naturally Raising A Sustainable Flock, which was a best seller in it’s Amazon category. Maat has been featured on NBC, CBS, AOL Finance, Community Chickens, the Huffington Post, Chickens magazine, Backyard Poultry, and Countryside Magazine. She lives on her farm in Southeast Missouri with her husband, two children, and about a million chickens and ducks. You can follow Maat on Facebook here and Instagram here.
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