Chickens will of course scratch around and eat many plants in the garden, including tender vegetable and fruit crops that you have to fence off. If you're looking to put some plants in your garden that the chickens won't touch, have a look at this list:
These plants are what we've found from experience that chickens do not touch. If you have any others to add to it, please leave a comment below to share your findings!
|
Rose of Sharon Most shrubs and bushes Blackcurrants (although they will take the fruits) Rosemary Lavender Hardy Geraniums Hardy Fuschias Foxgloves Pelargoniums Oriental Grasses & Bamboos Clematis Roses Honeysuckle Perennial Sweetpeas Wormwood Petunias Ophiopogan planiscapus ' Nigrescens' (Black lilyturf) Purple Fringed Loosestrife (Lysimachia ciliata) 'Purpurea' Lupins Some may eat: Pyrethrum Daisies Lillies Primroses |
![]() |
Every plant that grows up above chicken head height seems to work, especially if under planted by lavenders or similar. Give climbers protection at first but once established, they are fine. Chickens do scratch around and disturb the soil, but they also keep the insects down and manure as they go! Pyrethrum daisies work well, but tend to spread everywhere. Pyrethrum and Wormwood are great to grow around the yard, as they repel insects.
![]() |
Garlic, Onions Leeks (see left!) Potatoes, Squashes Legumes, Chives Mint, Tarragon, Sage Rhubarb (they will occasionally eat the young leaves but don't seem to get ill) Climbing beans once established Currant Bushes (established and without fruit) Asparagus (once in leaf) |