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By Jessica Lane | Last updated on October 1, 2020

The Big List of Chicken-Safe Plants for In & Around Your Coop

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Finding out which plants are chicken-safe plants and not toxic can be challenging. Find the best chicken-friendly plants to grow in and around your coop.

It can be very challenging to find plant options that can be used in your chicken area. I have compiled a list of plants that are deemed chicken-safe.

The following plants are appropriate and worry-free for the areas chickens roam. The list tells you the zone said plant grows in as well as if the plant is an annual or perennial. Some annuals can be over-wintered as perennials in warmer climates. Plants marked with an asterisk (*) have medicinal properties for chickens.

Chicken-Safe Floral Plants

If you find yourself wanting to landscape around your chicken’s enclosure, these plants will add seasonal color and are perfectly safe.

Your chickens will love eating both the leaves and the flowers off nasturtium plants.
Your chickens will love eating both the leaves and the flowers off nasturtium plants.

Bee Balm   3-9   Perennial
Begonia   Annual
Black Eyed Susan   3-11   Perennial
Coreopsis   3-9   Perennial
Calendula   Annual
Daisy   5-8   Perennial
*Dandelion   Annual
Day Lilly   4-8   Perennial
Echinacea (Coneflower)   3-9   Perennial
Impatiens   Annual
*Marigold   Annual
*Nasturtium   Annual
Orchid   6-8   Perennial
Petunia   Annual
Sunflower   Annual
Thistle   3-10   Perennial
Velvet Nettle 3-10   Perennial
Violet   Annual
Zinnia   Annual

Chicken-Safe Foliage Plants

Do you need year-round foliage to hide the less-than-aesthetically-pleasing areas around your chicken yard? These plants will do the trick.

Coleus   Annual
Hens & Chicks   4-8   Perennial
Hosta   3-7   Perennial
Yucca   4-11   Perennial

Herbs to Plant For Chickens

Many herbs benefit from a trimming. They tend to perform better and get bushier with regular pruning. Why not let your chickens prune for you?

*Catnip   3-9   Perennial
*Lavender   5-10   Perennial
*Lemon Balm   4-11   Perennial
*Mint   3-10   Perennial
Oregano   5-11   Perennial
*Rosemary   6-10   Perennial

Chicken-Friendly Vines

Vines are wonderful for growing up the side of a chicken enclosure. They offer shade in the summer and die back to allow for light in the winter. We have grapes and hops along the sunny side of our run.

Black Eye Susan   10-11   Perennial
Bougainvillea   9-11   Perennial
Grape Ivy   Annual
*Nasturtium   Annual
*Rose   3-11   Perennial
Swedish Ivy   Annual
Virginia Creeper   3-9   Perennial

Chicken-Safe Shrubs

You may be worried about shrubs on your property when you begin to free-range your chickens. Although shrubs like azalea and rhododendron can pose a risk, these plants are perfectly safe.

Bamboo  5-9 Be sure to plant the non-invasive variety!
Butterfly Bush   5-10
Dogwood   3-8
Fig   7-9
Gardenia   8-10
Hop Tree   4-9
Juniper   3-9
Lilac   2-9
Palm   8-11
*Rose   3-11

Shade Trees for Chickens

No need to be concerned about the fruit, nuts, and leaves of these trees dropping. Your chickens will happily clean up the mess and it won’t hurt them at all.

Hawthorn berries are a wonderful treat for chickens.
Hawthorn berries are a wonderful treat for chickens.

Ash   2-9
Citrus (all) Keep in mind that too much citrus may cause weak egg shells because it affects calcium absorption. 
Crab Apple   3-8
Dogwood   3-8
Elm   2-9
Eucalyptus   8-10
Fig   7-9
Guava  9-12
Hawthorn   4-7
Hop Tree   4-9
Madrona  6-10
Magnolia   5-9
Manzanita  8-11
Palm   8-11
Papaya  9-10
Pine   2-9
Redbud 5-9
Sassafras  4-9
Willow (Goat/Pussy/Weeping)  2-9 (depending on species)

Keep in mind, just because a plant is “safe” does not mean it will be safe from hungry chickens. Be sure to check out the big list of poisonous plants if you are worried about a plant already located on your homestead. If you have a suggestion of a plant to be listed, let me know in the comments below.

Don’t miss ⇒ The ultimate guide to raising laying hens.

It can be very challenging to find plant options that can be used in your chicken area. I have compiled a list of plants that are deemed chicken-safe.

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Jessica Lane

I am a non-traditional homesteader. What is a non-traditional homesteader? I'd like to think we are the people who don't fit the mold. I am a busy mom on a small bit of property with not a lot of financial resources, but I am figuring out how to live the life I want. A homesteader's life.
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Latest posts by Jessica Lane (see all)

  • Burn Barrel 101: Why You Need One on Your Homestead - November 24, 2020
  • How to Incubate and Brood Coturnix Quail - October 1, 2020
  • Can You Freeze Spaghetti Squash? Yes! Here’s How - October 1, 2020
  • The Big List of Chicken-Safe Plants for In & Around Your Coop - October 1, 2020
  • Help Livestock Deal with Summer Heat on the Homestead - March 25, 2020

Filed Under: Homestead Animals Tagged With: Chickens, trending

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrea says

    January 18, 2021 at 2:42 am

    Do you know if this list is inclusive to most livestock?
    Any help would be great! My friend has a horse, goat. chickens, bunnies, and guinea pig!

    Thanks

    Reply
  2. Terri says

    November 28, 2020 at 4:16 pm

    Are evergreens safe for chickens to eat? I want to put a tree in their run. Thanks terri

    Reply
  3. Waphle_Stomp says

    July 28, 2020 at 12:28 am

    You haven’t listed any berries.

    Reply
  4. Angela Faulk says

    April 26, 2020 at 6:38 pm

    Would this list be the same for ducks?

    Reply
  5. Kellye R Lomeli says

    October 1, 2019 at 3:45 am

    I would love a printable PDF version of these lists.i print up a lot of stuff and keep it in page protectors on a binder just for my birds.

    Reply
  6. Debby says

    May 4, 2017 at 10:26 am

    Love your Blog !

    Reply
  7. Dudley says

    December 31, 2016 at 9:58 pm

    seeing / finding it? Is there a list of harmful and or Deadly Plants for Chickens as well?

    Thanks everybody!

    Dudley

    Reply
    • Jessica Lane says

      January 6, 2017 at 10:31 am

      This is the list I commonly refer to (http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/627282/comprehensive-list-of-poisonous-plants-and-trees), but keep in mind that it isn’t detailed. “Poisonous” could refer to anything from digestive issues to fatal. We have quite a few things from that list on our homestead and our chickens have tasted and been just fine.

      Reply
  8. Donna Benner says

    October 25, 2016 at 6:09 pm

    Is there anything I can put around my gardens to keep roosters out? We have to that come into our yard and they have my flower gardens destroyed.

    Reply
    • Jessica Lane says

      November 3, 2016 at 2:13 pm

      I don’t, I’m sorry. I think a perimeter fence might be the only way to keep them out.

      Reply
      • Dudley says

        December 31, 2016 at 9:46 pm

        My grand father was an Electrical Contractor, wiring Hospitals, banks and even high end homes. He started out wiring anything that was in need. He was great at coming up with home made “Fix It’s” of all kinds. To keep the chickens out of the garden He drove stops into the ground and 6″ off the ground he added an insulated. Then he would string the wire along each stob, pulling and stretching it to remove ALL sags and loosens and floppy wire. Since he already had electric freed around almost 20 acres of pasture he then twisted the chicken wire onto the Horses Electric fence to power it. When a Chicken gets zapped for walking into the wire, they pay close attention and never come close to it again. IMPORTANT: When he fenced off the garden wit the electric fence wire he also clipped the large feathers off one of the wings. Clipping both may still allow the chicken to gain some degree of life and fly over the Hot Wire. Clipping only one wing will make the chickens become lopsided and imbalanced when they do try to fly. .You can buy very small Fence Chargers for almost no money at Tractor Supply, Southern /stated and a good ?Hardware Store. Try to support your local Hardware guy! Those guys are more important to the Homesteader that you might know. You will most surely need some first hand advice from someone that wants to see you succeed. I don’t mind paying extra to support Mom & Pop businesses who try VERY HARD to keep Made in USA products in their store for us! Try getting advice or recommendations for anything from a Walmart Employee…if you can even find an Employee on the floor.

        Reply
  9. Katherine says

    July 20, 2016 at 11:05 am

    What does the asterisk connote?

    Reply
    • Jessica Lane says

      July 20, 2016 at 12:06 pm

      Those are plants with medicinal properties for chickens. You can read more about that here.

      Reply
      • Heather Kyseth says

        July 21, 2020 at 11:45 am

        Does this list apply to ducks as well? Thank you!

        Reply

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My name is Jessica Lane. I live a nearly self-sufficient lifestyle with my three beautiful children on 5 1/2 acres in Maine. We raise Nigerian Dwarf goats, ducks, and chickens, and we grow as much food as we can. What we can’t grow or produce ourselves we barter for. If we can homestead where we live, what’s stopping you?

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