Things You Grow in a Garden That Chickens Can Eat

Chickens are not picky eaters and will consume just about any type of food including produce, grains, meat and dairy. Chickens especially enjoy vegetables, fruits and flowers, which can easily be grown in your garden and provide a lasting supply of treats for your chickens. If you do not have a garden plot available, you can use containers to grow your produce. Vegetables, fruits, flowers and grasses are healthy treats for your chickens, but they should not encompass the entire diet of your poultry. Chickens require proper poultry feed in addition to these treats.

  1. Vegetables

    • Chickens enjoy most vegetables and are particularly fond of greens such as lettuce, spinach, kale and chard. Greens tend to grow quickly and are a good choice for chickens. Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower and corn are also good options as they require the chickens to eat slowly and will give them something to peck at all day long. Vegetables such as carrots, eggplants, beets and cucumbers are also favorites. Make sure that you allow your vegetable plants to become established before letting your chickens have full access to them. Chickens will completely consume small seedlings and sprouts very quickly. With most vegetable plants, it is best to harvest the produce and leaves from the plant and feed it to your chickens in a separate area to avoid damage to the plant.

    Grass

    • Grass is very beneficial for your chickens and can be grown in your garden or you can allow your chickens to have access to your lawn. Certain grasses such as wheat and oat sprouts are well suited for gardens or containers and grow quickly, making them a good choice for chicken feed.

    Fruits

    • Chickens enjoy fruits like strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe. Fruits and melons are a special treat for your chickens and should be fed in moderation as they do not contain as many nutrients as vegetables and grasses. Melons tend to grow slower than most vegetables and take up more space in your plot, so they are not always a practical choice for your garden.

    Flowers

    • Marigolds, nasturtiums, daisies and pansies are good choices as they add a colorful touch to your garden and tend to grow quickly; however, chickens tend to like most types of flowers. They enjoy the flower petals, seeds and stems. Be careful when allowing your chickens around flowers in your yard or garden that you cherish as they will often devour the entire plant. Several types of flowers can be poisonous to chickens so you should fully research the flower before planting.

    Poisonous Plants

    • Avoid keeping poisonous plants in your yard or garden where your chickens may access them. Common poisonous plants include onions, chives, garlic, amaryllis, azalea, lily of the valley, oleander, hemlock, wisteria and columbine. PoultryHelp.com offers a complete list of poisonous plants and flowers.