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A chicken feeder is perfect for herbs suitable and edible for chickens. The feeder can be planted and placed right in the run for the chickens to graze on if desired. However for your kitchen herbs choose a container that can easily be placed near the kitchen for easy access or plant in the vegetable garden. Some herbs make suitable landscape plants such as Rosemary and Lavender.
My chicken feeder is planted with culinary herbs and aromatic herbs. I chose, two varieties of sage (Pineapple and Garden Sage) and two varieties of Lavender (French and English), English Thyme, Oregano aurea green, Italian large leaf basil, Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana) and Chives. (See Source for chicken feeder below)
If I were to plant the feeder purely for the chickens, my choices would be, Comfrey, Thyme, Oregano, Basil, Sage and Marigold. Comfrey is a must. It is healthy for chickens and provides many nutrients necessary for chickens. There are other suitable herbs, however the above would be my choices for all around nutrition.
By planting herbs for chickens I have options to allow them the free dining pleasure, or to trim the herbs, dry them and add to their feed or trim them and add the fresh leaves to their daily ration of feed.
The herbs should be washed and allowed to air dry or you may wish to use a dehydrator. Either way the herbs take very little time to dry. Use an herb grinder, or mortal and pestle if you wish to use them for culinary purposes, however for chickens this is not necessary and purely optional.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Fill your container with potting soil 2 inches from the top. Begin by planting the tallest plants to the back and sides. Add the lower growing herbs to the center, offsetting as you plant, so they are not in direct line with the larger plants in the back. Add the low growing and trailing plants to the front, again offsetting them from the previous row.
When all the plants are suitably placed, water thoroughly with a natural fertilizer. (See the link to my instructions for a simple and effective natural fertilizer: http://justfowlingaround.weebly.com/earth-friendly-projects/category/manure-teacompost-teaworm-castings). Place near the kitchen for easy access to your culinary herbs, snip off leaves as needed and either use fresh for garnish or dried to use in your favorite herbal recipes.
NOTE: I have been growing herbs many years and I would not consider myself an expert in spite of my experience and education. Herbs are not all created equal, we think of herbs in cooking and for fragrance, however there are a large variety of herbs that are used strictly medicinally and strictly for aromatics. Research herbs suitable for your purposes. Always use culinary herbs sparingly. When feeding to the chickens, small amounts are sufficient. Overuse of any herb can have unwelcome side effects for you or your animals. IF you have any side effects discontinue use immediately. Absolutely know the source of information and do not rely on general comments or blogs for that information. Research reliable sources, such as state agricultural sites, your local Master garden program through your county extension center or professionals and experts in the field of herbs and gardening sites.
(For the Trough Feeder, Herb Books, Herb Magazine and Herb seeds, please refer to our links below)
Credentials: Certified Oregon State Master Gardener since 1999. Horticulture degree 2001. Study of Herbs and Horticulture Therapy, heavy research and study of all plants and herbs. Gardening a lifetime.
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