Best Herbs and Flowers to Grow for Chickens (and Which to Avoid)

Did you know your garden can do more than just look pretty? For backyard chicken keepers, it can become a natural first-aid kit, parasite deterrent, and an enrichment zone that boosts flock health and saves you money. Explore our list of the best herbs and flowers to grow for chickens—and learn how planting the best herbs and flowers for chickens is a powerful, natural way to support your flock year-round.

Growing the best herbs and flowers for chickens isn’t just practical—it’s a fun, rewarding way to care for your flock naturally. Whether you’re tucking fresh basil into nesting boxes or watching your hens peck happily at calendula blooms, these plants do more than beautify your yard—they serve a purpose in every peck and petal.

 Why Grow Herbs and Flowers for Your Chickens?

There are two big reasons: your chickens’ health and your wallet.

1. Natural Health Support

Many herbs and flowers have medicinal properties that can help chickens with digestion, stress, immune support, and even parasite control. Chickens are natural foragers, and giving them access to nutrient-rich herbs encourages their instinctive behaviors and enhances their well-being.

2. Cost Savings

Buying supplements, pest repellents, and treats for your chickens can add up. Growing your own herbs and flowers gives you free, renewable access to flock-friendly enrichment and care tools. It’s a budget-friendly way to provide high-quality support, especially during peak laying season when nutrition really matters.

When planning a garden with your flock in mind, start by mapping out space for the best herbs and flowers to grow for chickens. Choose low-maintenance plants that thrive in your climate and offer health benefits. Group herbs like mint, oregano, and lemon balm together for natural pest control, and plant flowers like calendula and echinacea near shady areas your chickens can enjoy. Raised beds and container gardens can help protect delicate seedlings until they're strong enough to withstand curious beaks.

A Quick Note Before You Plant…

If you're starting a garden for your chickens, protect it until it's established. Chickens are opportunistic foragers—they'll happily tear up seedlings, dig through roots, and nibble your harvest before it’s ready. Use fencing, raised beds, or row covers to keep your garden safe until your plants are big enough to handle some pecking.

Once your herbs and flowers are established, you can let your flock enjoy them—or harvest trimmings to hang in the coop, toss in the run, or mix into their feed.

Helpful Herbs to Grow for Chickens

These herbs are safe, beneficial, and easy to grow in most climates. You can plant them near the coop, in pots, or directly in the garden. Many of them support digestion, calm stress, repel pests, or provide a nutritional boost.

Basil – Immune support, antibacterial, tasty treat
Bay Leaves – Antiseptic and insect-repelling
Catnip – Calming and deters mites
Chamomile – Stress-relief, calming, gentle on the digestive system
Cilantro – Detoxifying, vitamin-rich
Comfrey – Supports tissue repair, high in protein (use sparingly)
Dill – Digestive aid and mild calming herb
Fennel – Boosts egg-laying, rich in antioxidants
Lemon Balm – Calming, stress relief
Nettles – High in iron and calcium, good for laying hens
Peppermint – Repels rodents and pests, cooling effect
Rosemary – Antiseptic, insect-repellent, improves circulation
Sage – Hormonal support and good nesting herb
Spearmint – Respiratory health and cooling properties
Tarragon – Stimulates appetite, reduces intestinal worms
Thyme – Antibacterial and anti-fungal
Wormwood – Powerful natural dewormer (use sparingly)

 Tips on How to Use Them:

• Hang fresh sprigs in the nesting boxes

• Dry and crush to sprinkle into feed or bedding

• Plant in containers near the coop for easy access
  
  

Chicken-Safe Flowers to Grow

Flowers don’t just brighten your space—they offer a surprising number of health benefits for chickens. Many are edible, antioxidant-rich, or offer support for the immune and digestive systems.

Calendula – Soothes skin and boosts immunity (great in nesting boxes)
Echinacea – Immune system support
Geraniums – Safe and non-toxic (avoid scented varieties)
Hibiscus – Rich in Vitamin C
 Hollyhock – Calming and beautiful addition to gardens
Impatiens – Safe and colorful
Lilac – Chickens love the shade and petals
Pansy – Edible and gentle on digestion
 Pea Blossoms – Safe and attractive
Peony – Chickens enjoy the petals and shade
Phlox – Non-toxic and beneficial for pollinators
Snapdragons – Edible and safe
Squash Blossoms – Chickens will enjoy the flowers and the leaves

 Flowers to Avoid Around Chickens

While most herbs are chicken-friendly, some flowers are toxic or irritating and should be kept out of reach.

• Azalea

• Clematis

• Corn Cockle

• Foxglove

• Henbane

• Iris

• Lily of the Valley

• Sweet Pea

• Rhododendron

• Trumpet Vine

These plants contain compounds that can cause everything from mild digestive upset to serious poisoning. If you already have these in your yard, make sure they’re fenced off or out of reach from curious beaks.

Coop Enrichment: How to Use What You Grow

Even if your chickens can’t free-range in your garden, you can still use your herbs and flowers as coop enrichment.

Try:

• Tucking bundles of herbs in nesting boxes or hanging from the run
  
  

• Sprinkling dried petals into dust baths
  
  

• Adding herbs like garlic, mint, or oregano to their feed in small amounts
  
  

• Letting your chickens forage trimmings and clippings from the garden
  
  

This not only provides variety and nutrition but helps prevent boredom, which can lead to pecking and bad flock behavior.

Grow Once, Use Often

Creating a chicken-friendly garden is one of the best long-term investments you can make in your flock’s health, happiness, and productivity. The best herbs and flowers to grow for chickens are easy to care for, cost-effective, and incredibly versatile—from coop enrichment to natural pest control.

Just be mindful: chickens are enthusiastic foragers and won’t hesitate to peck at young, tender plants. Protect your garden with fencing or covers until everything is well-established, then enjoy sharing the bounty with your flock.

Whether you’re growing mint to deter pests or calendula to soothe skin and boost immunity, a little planning goes a long way. With the right mix of herbs and flowers, your garden becomes more than just a pretty space—it becomes a powerful, sustainable tool for natural chicken care.

Grab our free Chicken Garden Planning Guide – Herbs & Flowers! This printable download includes a handy list of what to plant, what to avoid, and how to use your herbs and flowers to support your flock all year long.

👉 Looking to grow more for your flock? Check out our companion guide on chicken-friendly fruits and vegetables to plant in your garden here!