Oregano for Chickens - Backyard Poultry (2024)

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Oregano is one of my favorite herbs to usebackyard chickens. It is easy to grow from seed in spring and prefers well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. It also grows well in containers or even in a pot on the windowsill. But the reason I like it so much is that oregano has been specifically studied for chickens.

Oregano oil for chickens

A 2012 study reported by The New York Times notes that commercial chicken farms have started using cinnamon oiloregano oilsfor chickens. Their natural antibiotic properties serve as an alternative to conventional antibiotics.

Of course, essential oils are much stronger than the fresh herbs, so while I don't necessarily recommend feeding your chickens oregano oil, I think adding fresh and dried oregano to their diet as a preventive measure and keeping your flock healthy is a good solution. is. thing. Oregano for chickens is known to strengthen the immune system and is said to help protect against common poultry diseases such as salmonella, infectious bronchitis, bird flu and e-coli. My chickens love to eat fresh oregano straight from the garden and I dry the excess oregano to mix with their daily feed throughout the winter.

I don't understand minebaby chicksvaccinated; and I don't feed them eithermedicated chicken feed. Instead, I offer them freshly chopped oregano, almost straight from the hatch. (If you feed your chickens anything other than chicken food, be sure to also provide a small bowl of grit or coarse dirt to help them digest the plant fibers.) Chickens love herbs of all kinds and feeding them a steady diet of nutritious herbs such as oregano, they develop a taste for them and enjoy eating them until they reach adulthood.

While there is no set dosage for oregano oil, if I had the choice of administering commercial antibiotics to a sick chicken or trying a more holistic approach, I would definitely try a few drops of oregano oil in their water first.

So why not plant some oregano in the spring and add it to your chickens' diet? As you prune your plants, feed the trimmings to the chickens to boost their natural immunity, and start mixing some dried oregano into their feed in the winter when they could use an immune boost. And a pinch of cinnamon won't hurt either!

Wchicken to plant oregano for chickens.

Plant oregano seeds directly in the ground after the danger of frost has passed, or start seeds indoors about two weeks before the last frost date. Oregano often grows as a perennial in zones 5 through 9, but must be mulched in winter in colder climates to ensure it survives the winter.

Where to plant oregano for chickens.

Plant in full sun (or partial shade in southern climates) in sandy, well-drained soil. Oregano is a Mediterranean plant, so prefers dry conditions and is drought tolerant, although seedlings should be watered regularly until they become established.

Rready to harvest.

When your plants are 4 to 6 inches tall, you can start pinching back the tops of the plants. This results in a bushy rather than leggy plant. Harvest the leaves in the morning after the dew has dried for the best flavor. Let them air dry or use them fresh.

Originally published in Backyard Poultry 2016 and regularly reviewed for accuracy.