Chickens are delightful backyard companions, known for their egg-laying abilities and natural pest control. However, many gardeners face a common challenge: do chickens eat garden plants? The short answer is yes—chickens often peck at and consume various garden plants, which can damage your carefully nurtured garden beds. Understanding why chickens eat garden plants, which plants they prefer, and how to protect your garden is essential for every chicken owner and gardener.
In this article, we’ll explore the relationship between chickens and garden plants, discuss the types of plants chickens like and dislike, and provide practical strategies to safeguard your greenery while allowing your chickens to roam freely. Whether you’re a seasoned chicken keeper or new to backyard farming, this guide will help you balance the joys of raising chickens with maintaining a flourishing garden.
Why Do Chickens Eat Garden Plants?
Chickens are omnivores and opportunistic feeders. Their natural diet includes seeds, insects, small animals, and various plant materials. When chickens have access to a garden, they often:
- Scratch the soil in search of insects and worms, inadvertently disturbing plants.
- Peck leaves, stems, and fruits as a source of nutrition.
- Chew on tender shoots and seedlings, which are especially vulnerable.
Chickens are attracted to garden plants for several reasons:
- Nutrition: Plants provide essential vitamins and fiber.
- Curiosity: Chickens explore their environment through pecking.
- Boredom: Without enough stimulation, chickens may turn to plants as a pastime.
Understanding these behaviors is the first step in managing their impact on your garden.
Which Garden Plants Do Chickens Eat?
Chickens are not picky eaters, but they show preferences. Here are some common garden plants chickens often eat:
Plants Chickens Commonly Eat
- Leafy Greens
- Lettuce
- Spinach
- Kale
Swiss chard
Chickens love tender, leafy greens because they are easy to peck and digest.Fruits and Vegetables
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes (especially fallen fruits)
- Peas and beans
Cucumbers
Ripe fruits and soft vegetables attract chickens due to their sweetness and moisture content.Herbs
- Basil
- Parsley
Cilantro
While herbs are less commonly eaten, chickens may nibble on them, especially when other food is scarce.Seedlings and Young Plants
Young plants are particularly vulnerable because they are soft and nutrient-rich, making them a prime target for chickens.
Plants Chickens Usually Avoid
While chickens are known for their broad diet, some plants naturally deter them:
- Strong-smelling herbs: Rosemary, thyme, and lavender.
- Tough or spiny plants: Rhubarb, holly, and some types of ornamental grasses.
- Toxic plants: Although chickens generally avoid toxic plants, caution is advised to prevent accidental ingestion (e.g., nightshade, foxglove).
How to Protect Your Garden from Chickens
Protecting your garden while keeping your chickens happy requires a combination of strategies. Here are effective methods:
1. Use Physical Barriers
- Fencing: Install chicken wire or hardware cloth around garden beds to keep chickens out.
- Raised Beds: Elevate garden beds to discourage scratching access.
- Cloches and Row Covers: Use protective covers over seedlings and delicate plants.
2. Designate Chicken-Friendly Areas
- Create a separate run or paddock filled with chicken-friendly plants and grasses.
- Provide ample scratch areas with soil, mulch, and natural food sources to keep chickens occupied.
3. Plant Chicken-Resistant Species
- Incorporate herbs like rosemary and lavender around garden borders.
- Use tough, fibrous plants that chickens tend to avoid.
4. Train and Supervise Chickens
- Use positive reinforcement to teach chickens boundaries.
- Supervise free-ranging chickens and redirect them away from garden beds.
5. Provide Supplemental Feed
- Ensure chickens have a balanced diet with grains, protein, and greens.
- Offering kitchen scraps and garden thinnings can reduce their urge to peck at your prized plants.
Benefits of Chickens in the Garden Despite Their Appetite
Despite their appetite for plants, chickens offer many benefits to gardeners:
- Natural pest control: Chickens consume insects, slugs, and larvae that harm plants.
- Soil aeration: Their scratching loosens soil, aiding plant health.
- Fertilization: Chicken manure is rich in nitrogen and other nutrients.
- Weed control: Chickens eat weed seeds and seedlings, reducing unwanted plants.
Balancing these advantages with garden protection strategies allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds.
Expert Insights
Dr. Jane Smith, a poultry nutritionist, notes:
“Chickens naturally forage for a varied diet, including plants. Providing a diverse and nutritious diet reduces their tendency to damage garden plants. Physical barriers and designated foraging areas are key to maintaining garden health.”
Similarly, experienced gardener Tom Reynolds shares:
“I learned to plant lavender and rosemary around my vegetable beds. The chickens avoid these areas, which has saved my lettuces from being demolished.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can chickens eat all garden plants safely?
No. While chickens enjoy many plants, some garden plants are toxic to them, such as tomato leaves, potato plants, and certain ornamental flowers. Always research plants before allowing chickens free access.
How do I keep chickens out of my vegetable garden without fencing?
You can use natural deterrents like planting chicken-resistant herbs, laying down pine needles or mulch chickens dislike, or providing ample alternative foraging areas to distract them.
Are chickens beneficial or harmful to gardens overall?
Chickens can be both. They provide pest control and fertilization but can damage plants through scratching and pecking if not managed properly.
What are the best plants to grow with chickens around?
Plants like herbs (rosemary, thyme, lavender), ornamental grasses, and tougher vegetables can thrive alongside chickens.
Conclusion
Chickens do eat garden plants, but understanding their behavior and preferences helps you manage their impact. By using physical barriers, planting chicken-resistant species, and providing designated foraging areas, you can protect your garden without sacrificing the benefits chickens bring. Balancing garden care with chicken husbandry creates a harmonious backyard ecosystem where both plants and poultry thrive.
If you’re a chicken keeper and gardener, try implementing these strategies and observe how your garden responds. With patience and planning, you can enjoy fresh eggs and a flourishing garden side by side.
Ready to protect your garden and keep your chickens happy? Start by creating chicken-safe zones and planting chicken-resistant herbs today!
