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Grow these Herbs for a healthier flock!

Grow These Herbs for a Healthier Chicken Flock!

Did you know that adding herbs to your chickens' diet can improve their overall health and well-being?

According to recent studies, incorporating herbs into a chicken's diet can increase egg production, boost immune function, and even prevent common health issues.

GROWING SAGE

Perennial Zones 4 – 8 (Hardiness Varies)

Sage is a shrubby perennial that’s an obvious choice for the kitchen. From spring through mid-summer, Sage displays blue to lavender flowers which are very attractive to birds. It has an earthy, rich, spicy flavor and it is part of the mint family.

The most popular types of culinary Sage are Garden Sage, Golden Garden Sage, Berggarten Garden Sage, Dwarf Garden Sage, Tricolor Garden Sage, and Window Box Sage.

GROWING SAGE FOR CHICKENS

Sage is a great herb for the overall health of your chickens. It acts as an antioxidant and can help combat salmonella. You can add this dried herb to your chicken's daily feed or give it to your flock fresh.

Sage is a highly nutritious herb that provides several health benefits for chickens. Here are some of the nutritional benefits of sage for chickens:

Vitamins: Sage is a good source of vitamins that are essential for chickens, including vitamins A, K, and B-complex vitamins. These vitamins help promote healthy growth, strong bones, and a robust immune system.

Minerals: Sage is also a great source of several minerals that are vital for chickens, including calcium, iron, and magnesium. These minerals play a crucial role in the development of strong bones, healthy blood circulation, blood vessel development and proper muscle function.

Antioxidants: Sage is a rich source of antioxidants. These antioxidants help protect the cells from oxidative stress, which can cause cellular damage and increase the risk of chronic diseases.

Anti-inflammatory properties: Sage contains compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds can help reduce inflammation in the body which can help alleviate pain and promote overall health.

Starting Sage from Seed

Seed Longevity: 2 years.

Seed Sowing Depth: Surface, cover lightly.

Best Soil Temp for Germination: 65 – 70 degrees.

Days to Germination: 15-21 days.

Spring Sowing:

Sow Indoors 6 – 8 weeks before the last frost. Transplant out after the last frost date.

Fall: Not recommended.

Winter Sowing

If you haven't tried winter sowing, you're in for a treat. This method is especially good for sowing herbs. Winter sowing is basically sowing seeds in the bottom of milk jugs in the winter, setting the milk jugs outside for the winter and leaving them there until the seeds germinate in the Spring.

For our article containing detailed information about Winter Sowing, see our separate article.

To watch our 30 minute video on how to winter sow, click here.

Growing Sage

Plant Size: 1-3’ Height.

Growing Soil Temperature: 55 – 80 degrees.

Spacing: 12 - 18”.

Container Size: 12” x 12” good size for Sage.

Soil: Well-drained.

Watering: Light, only during dry spells. Avoid overwatering.

Light/Sun: Full sun to light shade.

Fertilizer: Add some compost throughout the year.

Other Care Tips:

Prefers cool to warm temperatures and will need some shade during the hot weather.
The plant should be replaced every 4-5 years.
Remove flower spikes before they have a chance to flower.
After three years, trim off woody parts to encourage new growth.

Dividing Sage

Best to divide Sage every 4-5 years when the plant becomes woody. Dig up the entire plant, and using a sharp shovel, divide it into sections. Remove all woody parts and replant the tender sections planting at the same depth.

Softwood Cuttings of Sage

Take cuttings in spring when new growth is several inches in length. Side shoots of 4" in length are perfect. Cut the stem at an angle and remove lower leaves leaving an inch or two of the stem bare. Plant cutting bare side down into a well-drained soil mix. No fertilizer is needed at this stage.

Wrap the container in plastic to keep in humidity. Avoid having the leaves touch the plastic. Place the pot in light but out of direct light. Keep soil moist but never soggy. Remove the plastic when cutting grows roots. A light tug that gives you some resistance means it has rooted.

Harvesting Sage

Start to harvest Sage once you see good growth on the plant. Best harvested when tops of blossoms are barely open. You can gather leaves at any time. Sage is most flavorful as flowers begin to open. Purple-leaved Sage tends to be more aromatic than green-leaved Sage.

Storing Sage

Fresh
Damp Paper Towel

This method works well for hardy herbs that have woody stems as well as a few soft-stemmed herbs.

Clean and thoroughly dry the Sage. Arrange lengthwise in a single layer on a slightly damp paper towel. Loosely roll up the herb and transfer to a plastic bag or plastic wrap. Label and store in the fridge. Sage will stay fresh in the fridge using this method for up to 2 weeks.

Freezing

For best results, use frozen Sage within 1-2 years. By freezing herbs, you will lose some of the herb's texture but preserve the flavor. Here are a few freezing options to consider:

Tray Freeze

Strip leaves off the stems of the Sage and spread onto a cookie sheet on a single layer. Freeze in the freezer, then place it in a labeled freezer bag to store. Since the leaves are frozen separately, you can easily remove the amount you need.

Ice Cube Trays with Oil

This method works well for hard-stemmed herbs that would probably be cooked when adding to a dish. The oil reduces some of the browning and freezer burns.

Clean and thoroughly dry herbs. Mince and firmly pack herbs into an ice cube tray 3/4 full. Add Olive Oil to fill and freeze. Transfer frozen cubes into labeled freezer bags to store.

Flat Freezer Bag

Trim off the stems and place them in a labeled freezer bag. Squeeze out the air, flatten the freezer bag, label and store.

Drying

Sage contains more oil than most other herbs so it dries more slowly. It is one of the best herbs to dry. For best results, use dried Sage within 1-2 years.

Hang to Dry

Pick your Sage in bunches right before you intend to store them. Tie the bottom of the bunch together with twine and hang upside down to dry in a dry, low humidity area. For added protection against dust, you can put the bundles inside paper bags with plenty of holes for ventilation. When the herbs are dry, the leaves will crumble easily between your fingers. Store in an airtight container.

Using Sage

Sage can be overwhelming so start with small amounts.
Use leaves fresh in recipes or add them sparingly to salads.
Dried sage is commonly used with Thanksgiving stuffing.
It can be paired with pork, beans, potatoes, and cheese.
You can mix it into a soft cheese for a tasty bread spread.

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Including sage in your chicken's diet can provide a range of nutritional benefits that can help promote their health and well-being. Whether you add it to their regular feed or use it as a natural insect repellent or as a natural antibiotic, sage is an excellent herb to incorporate into your chicken's diet.

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Growing Herbs for Chickens -- Basil.

Chicken feed isn't cheep! Luckily, there are some ways you can reduce your bagged chicken feed bill.
Feeding your hens food scraps from your leftover meals is certainly one. But for putting a bigger dent in that feed bill, grow some healthy feed alternatives right there in your backyard or homestead.

Herbs are a wonderful choice to grow for your chickens. Not only do chickens like to eat many different herbs, but most herbs have some other uses you may want to try in the chicken coop and run.

Why Feed Chickens Basil?

Basil is a nutritionally-dense herb that is high in plant protein.

Basil has antibacterial properties and a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and immune system boosting antioxidants.

Basil supports a strong immune system and aids in improving digestion, which is very important for chicken health.

Basil promotes mucus membrane and respiratory system health. This is important for chickens because they are particularly susceptible to respiratory issues, especially if the chicken run and coop aren’t large enough and/or aren’t cleaned often.

Add some crushed Basil to your chicken feed and watch their egg yolks turn a radiant orange.

Basil contains vitamins A, B, C, and K which help maintain good eyesight and strong bones.

How to Prepare Basil for Chickens

Fresh

A gathering of fresh basil in reach of chickens to peck at.

Drying Basil for Later Use

Air Drying

This method is the easiest, but is the longest way to dry basil. You can tie the basil into small bundles and hang them upside down in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight, until the leaves and stems are completely dry.

Oven Drying
Spread into a single layer on the dehydrator trays and dry for 2 to 4 hours until they are completely dry and brittle. You can leave the oven door slightly open so all the moisture escapes.

Dry for about two hours. Don't forget to check on the leaves every 30-45 minutes.

You can leave the door slightly ajar so all the moisture escapes. Dry for about 2 hours, checking on the leaves every 30-45 minutes.

Dehydrator Drying

Preheat the food dehydrator to 95 - 115F. The temperature, humidity, and dehydrator model will determine how long you need to dehydrate the basil. You'll need to keep an eye on the leaves.

To watch our 30 minute video on how to winter sow, click here.

How Much Basil is Safe for Chickens?

As with all chicken feed alternatives, begin by feeding in moderation. Your chickens will let you know which alternatives are their favorites!

Basil to Deter Pests in the Coop

Pests don’t like aromatic herbs, so adding Basil throughout your chicken coops keeps many pests away.

In the nesting box, dried Basil acts as a pleasant odor control. An electric herb grinder works wonders!

Where to Grow Basil

You can grow some herbs like Basil inside your chicken run by sowing seeds inside a wire fence circle like the above picture. It will keep your chickens from digging the plants right out of the ground until it's time to remove the fencing and let them feast!

Herbs are great plants to grow in pots and containers which can easily be moved right into the chicken run when ready to feed.

You can also designate a few raised garden beds for growing great food for your chickens so there's always some healthy foods available to toss in and watch the show!

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When you add herbs to other chicken food and their coop, you're assuring your chickens will maintain better overall health.

So save money on that ever-rising cost of chicken feed and grow some healthy alternatives for your hens and roosters. They will love you for it!

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This post may contain some Amazon Associate links meaning that I will get a small compensation at no expense to you if you purchase something from this blog.

Growing Basil - Homesteading 101

Basil is a warm-season tender herb with soft stems and leaves. It's popular for many reasons. It makes the perfect partner for tomatoes, not only in the garden where its strong scent may confuse predatory insect pests but also chopped and sprinkled on thick slices of juicy tomatoes, still warm from the sun.

Popular types of Basil

Christmas Basil Height: 16-20"

This basil will add a fruity flavor to salads and drinks. It has glossy green leaves and purple flowers.

Cinnamon Basil Height 25-30"

This basil has a delightful fragrance and spicy flavor. It has dark purple stems and flowers and small glossy leaves. It's used in fresh arrangements and in fruit salads and as garnishes.

Dark Opal Basil Height 14-20"

Spicy basil in salads, in pesto and as garnishes. Purple stems, flowers, and leaves.

Holy Basil Height 12-14"

The leaves are used to make tea for boosting your immune system. Mottled green and purple leaves.

Lemon Basil Height 20-24"

Lemon basil is used in fish dishes and iced tea. Light green leaves with white flowers.

Lime Basil Height 12-16"

Lime basil is a compact basil with green leaves and white flowers. It's used with fresh fish and chicken dishes, teas and margaritas.

Purple Ruffle Basil Height 16-20"

This basil has the same flavor as Opal basil and is used for floral arrangements and garnishes.

Sweet Basil Height 14-30"

Sweet Basil is used in Italian sauces and soups and for making pesto. It's more prolific in hot sunny locations.

Sweet Tai Basil Height 12-16"

An Asian variety with a distinct spicy anise-clove flavor. Purple stems and blooms with green leaves.

Starting Basil from Seed

Seed Longevity: 5 years.
Seed Sowing Depth: Just cover.
Days to harvest: 60-90 days.
Best Soil Temp for Germination: 75-85 degrees.
Days to Germination: 5-10 days.

Spring Sowing

Sow indoors 4-6 weeks before your last frost date. Plant out after all danger of frost has passed.