The best herbs for chickens can provide variety and supplemental nutrients while supporting your flock during stressful times, including the annual molt. Molting requires a great deal of energy and nutrients as chickens shed old feathers and grow new ones, making this a good time to pay extra attention to their overall diet and care.

Every year, starting in mid to late summer, adult chickens go through an annual molt. This natural process allows chickens to shed their old, broken, dirty feathers and regrow fresh new feathers before the chill of winter sets in. These brand-new feathers help chickens stay warmer throughout the winter and survive until spring.

The molting process is a stressful experience for chickens. The process is painful for the chickens as well as the chicken keeper. During molt, many birds look like they were on the losing end of a nasty bar fight. They often lose feathers in large patches, act lethargic and depressed, and skulk around the yard like they’re trying to avoid being seen by anyone they know.

Key Takeaways

• The best herbs for chickens can add variety and supplemental nutrients to a balanced diet.
• Chickweed, basil, calendula, red clover, chamomile, stinging nettle and lemon balm can all be offered as occasional treats.
• During molt, chickens need a nutritionally complete diet with adequate protein to support feather regrowth.
• Some herbs are best offered fresh, while others can be dried or frozen for use later in the season.
• Always provide fresh drinking water and avoid using herbs as a replacement for a complete chicken feed.

Herbs Are a Supplement, Not a Substitute

Herbs can add variety to a chicken’s diet, but they shouldn’t replace a complete, nutritionally balanced feed. During molt, chickens have especially high nutritional demands as they regrow feathers, so their primary diet should provide the protein, vitamins and minerals they need. Offer herbs as occasional additions alongside a balanced feed and plenty of fresh water.

Here are seven of the best herbs for chickens during molt.

1. Chickweed

Heather Levin

Chickweed is an unassuming spring weed that you’ve likely walked past a hundred times without giving it a second glance. However, this innocuous “weed” can be a marvelous snack to your chickens while they’re molting.

Chickweed contains vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A and C, and can make a nutritious seasonal treat for chickens. 

The challenge with feeding your chickens chickweed during molt is that this is an herb that typically only grows in the cool days of early spring. Once the hot summer sun blazes, it disappears. And your chickens will be molting in fall. So, what can you do?

The answer lies with your freezer. Chickweed freezes well, so harvest chickweed in spring, freeze it and then dole it out to your chickens once they start to molt. I do this every year, as we have an abundance of chickweed that grows on our property, and it’s always a special treat for the chickens.

2. Basil

Basil is a flavorful herb that can add variety to your chickens’ diet. It also contains nutrients, including vitamin K and antioxidants.

Basil is best offered fresh. You can chop fresh leaves and mix them into a small amount of feed or offer them separately as an occasional treat. To preserve an abundance from the garden, freeze chopped basil in small portions for later use.

3. Calendula

Calendula is a colorful, easy-to-grow flower that can be offered fresh or dried as an occasional addition to chicken feed. Its petals contain carotenoids, which can contribute to the rich yellow or orange color of egg yolks and may also intensify pigmentation in the skin and beak.

4. Red Clover

Red clover grows wild throughout most of the country during the summer months. And this pretty little weed offers a wide range of medicinal and nutritional benefits that you can take advantage of when your chickens are molting.

Red clover contains a variety of nutrients and can be offered fresh or dried in moderation as part of a varied diet. It’s high in beta-carotene, calcium, vitamin C and minerals such as magnesium, copper and zinc. Think of it as a little vitamin for your flock!

You can offer your chickens fresh or dried red clover blossoms. However, if you live in a northern climate, most red clover will be past its prime by the time your chickens start their fall molt.

To overcome this, forage for red clover when it’s at its peak, and dry the blossoms yourself. Choose flowers that are bright pink, and avoid harvesting any blossoms that have turned brown.

5. Chamomile

Chamomile is a sweet, gentle herb perfect for the molting season, for several reasons.

Chamomile is a mild, fragrant herb that can be offered dried or brewed into a cooled tea as an occasional treat. It’s also anti-inflammatory.

You can give your chickens dried chamomile mixed in with their feed. Or, you can make a pot of chamomile tea and offer the cooled tea in a separate dish while continuing to provide plenty of fresh drinking water.

6. Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) may not seem like an obvious treat for chickens. Anyone who has brushed against the plant knows how it earned its name—the tiny hairs on its leaves and stems can cause a painful sting.

Despite its prickly reputation, nettle can be a nutritious addition to a chicken’s diet during molt. It contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C and K, several B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Chickens generally won’t eat fresh nettle because of its stinging hairs, but drying or cooking the plant neutralizes the sting. You can dry nettle and crumble the leaves into your chickens’ feed, or cook the greens before offering them as an occasional treat.

If you have an abundance of nettle growing on your property, harvest it carefully with gloves and preserve some while it is at its peak. Dried nettle can be stored for later use, making it a convenient addition to your flock’s diet during the fall molting season.

7. Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a citrus-scented herb in the mint family that can add variety to your chickens’ diet. It grows easily in many gardens and produces plenty of leaves throughout the growing season, making it a convenient herb to have on hand for both people and poultry.

Lemon balm is often best used fresh, as some of its aromatic oils can diminish during drying. Simply chop a few fresh leaves and mix them into a small amount of feed, or offer the leaves separately as an occasional treat.

You can also steep fresh lemon balm in hot water to make an herbal tea. Allow the tea to cool completely before offering a small amount to your flock, while continuing to provide plenty of fresh drinking water.

Because lemon balm is easy to grow and harvest, you can also freeze or dry some of the leaves to use later in the season when your chickens begin their annual molt.

More Herbs and Spices for Chickens During Molt

Molting is a stressful process for chickens and their bodies are taxed while they’re regrowing feathers. This means that their immune system won’t be as robust as it is during normal times. So, providing chickens with immune-boosting herbs and spices can help prevent illness and disease during molting.

Some beneficial herbs and spices to mix into feed for your chickens when they’re molting include turmeric, fresh garlic, oregano, thyme, cinnamon and fresh ginger.

Keep in mind that the duration of the molt is going to be different for each bird. Some chickens will molt hard and fast and have a complete set of new feathers in a month. Others take eight to 12 weeks or more to go through their molt. 

A rare few, typically poor layers, can take up to six months to go through the molting process. However, because these molts are so slow you might not even be able to tell that they’re losing feathers.

So your birds might need extra support for longer than you think! Keep an eye on their progress as they transition through their molts, and switch them back to regular layer feed when they start laying again. 

Fresh Herb Frittata for Molting Chickens

Here’s a helpful recipe for herbs to feed your chickens during molting season. 

Ingredients

• 6 to 8 large eggs
• 1/4 cup plant-based milk
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano 
• 2 cups of molting supportive fresh herbs (chickweed, basil, calendula, chamomile, lemon balm, etc.) 
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 400°F. In a 12-inch cast iron skillet, pour the olive oil to coat.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, plant-based milk, garlic cloves, turmeric and oregano. Fold in the fresh herbs and sunflower seeds.

Pour the egg and herb mixture in the skillet. 

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the eggs are completely set in the middle. Let cool completely, and serve to your flock.

FAQs About the Best Herbs for Chickens

What are the best herbs for chickens?

Some of the best herbs for chickens include chickweed, basil, calendula, red clover, chamomile, stinging nettle and lemon balm. These herbs can add variety and supplemental nutrients to a chicken’s diet, but they should be offered alongside a complete, balanced feed.

Can chickens eat herbs during molt?

Yes. Chickens can enjoy a variety of fresh or dried herbs during molt as an occasional treat. Herbs can add variety to their diet, but adequate nutrition—particularly protein—is more important for supporting the growth of new feathers.

Can chickens eat fresh stinging nettle?

Chickens generally won’t eat fresh stinging nettle because its tiny hairs can sting. Drying or cooking nettle neutralizes the sting, allowing you to offer it safely as an occasional treat.

Can chickens drink herbal tea?

Some mild herbal teas, including cooled chamomile or lemon balm tea, can be offered to chickens as an occasional treat. Herbal tea should not replace fresh, clean drinking water, which should always be available to your flock.

Final Thoughts

Molting is a natural part of a chicken’s life, but growing a new set of feathers takes plenty of energy and nutrients. The best herbs for chickens can provide variety and supplemental nutrition during this demanding time. Offer herbs in moderation alongside a complete, balanced diet, and give your flock plenty of fresh water and a comfortable place to rest while they grow their new feathers.

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