Happy chickens in the garden
I, Denise, have two chickens, Nuggets and Juanita, who are a valued part of our garden and family life. They provide enjoyment, fresh eggs, natural fertiliser and effective pest control.
Here are a few tips that I use at home, to support their health:
- The coop is cleaned every few days and monitored for pests and droppings are assessed to gauge gut health.
- Soiled bedding is composted with kitchen scraps and grass clippings to produce nutrient-rich compost.
- To help prevent lice and mites, I add wormwood clippings to nesting boxes and the coop floor each month, apply a natural neem-based spray and routinely inspect areas such as the vent, comb and under the wings.
- The chickens are free-range and forage daily.
- Their diet is supplemented with organic vegetables, fruits, garlic and seeds including corn, sunflower, mung beans, dried mealworms, pumpkin seeds and oats, offered as treats.
- They are occasionally given a “chooky-cino” made from coconut milk, turmeric and black pepper to support digestion and nutrition.
- They are also rotated through the vegetable garden in a chicken tractor for pest control and fresh rainwater is provided in an elevated container.
Plants to grow near your chicken coop:
- A wide range of herbs, including parsley, oregano, mint, basil and thyme. These herbs are packed with vitamins for your chickens and also help your coop smell nice.
- Tough, hardy perennials are ideal, for example rosemary, lavender, sage, lemongrass and wormwood. These are great for the outer edges where chickens roam a lot. They could be planted as a hedge or placed around the garden.
- Plant a “chicken patch” of nasturtiums, silverbeet, kale, spinach and clover – allow your chicken to forage in this patch and enjoy their living snacks.
- Remember to add in plants that allow chickens to shelter from the sun and predators, including callistemon, grevilleas, clumping bamboo, berries and sunflowers.
Feature plant of the season:
Tree Marigold – Tagetes lemmonii
It’s easy to grow and an excellent companion plant, with highly fragrant flowers from autumn through winter.
It has a strong, pleasant aroma often, described as a mix of passionfruit and mint.
It thrives in full sun and is drought tolerant once established.
The roots repel soil nematodes, while the scent of the leaves deter insects like white fly, carrot fly and white butterfly.
– Happy gardening from Denise & Jodie
Garden jobs for winter:
Leaf composting
Making compost weed tea
Pruning fruit trees for summer yields
Pruning roses
Frost protection of tender plants
Tool and equipment maintenance
Weeding
Planting bare-root trees
