It is quite common for chickens to forage bugs, grasses, seeds, worms, and pretty anything under the sun.
You surely have some flowers, like geraniums, in your backyard where you usually let your fowls roam around.
With their colorful and bright appearance, it is not surprising if you have already seen your chickens also eating these flowers.
The question, however, is: should this concern you? Can chickens eat geraniums?
Geraniums have over 200 types and they are all perfectly safe for your chickens to eat. In fact, it is also beneficial for them to have these flowers as they are rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Geraniums also improve your fowl’s health through increasing metabolism, aids in blood clot and detoxification process, skin restoration, and improving respiratory health.
However, ensure that they are not consuming these flowers everyday, since they can still be toxic if consumed in a serious large amount.
Chickens can also safely eat these flowers as long as there are no traces of pesticides and other chemicals.
Let’s get into more detail
Here’s what you’re going to discover in this article
- Is Geranium safe for chickens?
- Garden plants that are poisonous for chickens
- Which plants you shouldn’t have near chickens
- Plants that are safe for chickens
- Can chickens eat buttercups?
Lots to cover with some interesting points
Sound good?
Great, let’s get started!
Is Geranium Safe For Chickens? (In Detail)
There is nothing to worry about if your chicken has eaten a geranium flower in your backyard.
This particular flower has around 200 types, and all of them are safe for your chickens.
You can even plant them near their coop or include it in their meals occasionally.
After all, these flowers also carry several benefits for your chickens.
Geraniums are natural carriers of antioxidants which helps your chicken fight diseases and stay healthy.
They are also densely-packed with Vitamin A and Vitamin C which are both considered necessary nutritional requirements for your fowls.
The colorful geraniums also help your chicken in keeping their stress level low and relieve their tiredness.
Are Any Garden Plants Poisonous To Chickens?
Keep in mind that not all garden plants are edible and safe for your chickens.
Make sure that the flowers you have in your yard or field should be all okay for your chickens and would not cause any illness.
If ever you are keeping some poisonous flowers, ensure that they will not be accessible for your fowls to forage.
Generally, all garden plants that have been exposed to chemicals like pesticides or insecticides are considered poisonous.
However, there are garden plants that are naturally toxic for your fowls.
This includes daffodils, morning glory, tulips, azaleas, tansy, foxgloves, amaryllis, and many more.
In case you are not confident if your flowers are safe for your chickens, do some research and check if they are okay to feed to your birds.
What Should You Not Plant Around Chickens?
While it is nice to have beautiful flowers and other garden plants to harvest in your yard, it is better to think twice about having plants that are considered toxic for your chickens.
Fowls are foraging birds, so they would eat anything that they can eat and access.
Garden plants are one of their foraging targets, so it is better if your plants are all chicken-friendly.
For instance, onions are one of the most common garden plants to have, but they are also toxic to chickens in large quantities.
Apricots, yews, azaleas, and rhododendron can also be lethal to your fowls’ health, and may cause several complications.
Nightshade plants and those that belong in this plant family should also be kept away from your chickens.
This includes the green parts of potatoes and tomatoes as they may cause heart and respiratory problems.
For flowers, do not let your chickens have access to daffodils, foxgloves, tulips, bulbs, jasmines, and honeysuckles.
What Plants Are Chicken Safe?
Chickens are also easily maintained in terms of their meals.
In fact, you can also encourage them to be healthier through having many various plants that are beneficial and safe for them to forage.
As long as your plants are all pesticide and chemical-free, they can be eaten without any problems by your fowls.
You can also try to plant several variations like herbs, vegetables, grains, fruits, shrubs, and small trees.
Some best plants to have for your chickens are thyme, lavender, nasturtium, rosemary, basils, and oregano.
For vegetables and grains, you can have asparagus, sunflowers, peas, beans, legumes, and squash.
Most fruit trees and shrubs like raspberries and blueberries are perfectly safe and healthy for your chickens.
Check out these articles about what chickens can eat
Can chickens eat coffee grounds?
Do Chickens Like Buttercups?
Buttercups can be pretty common in fields located in cold and temperate places.
They usually have five small, yellow petals that appear to be cup-like and have a beautiful appearance.
It is pretty eye-catching not only to people, but also to animals and birds like chickens.
Needless to say, buttercups can be pretty poisonous to your chickens.
When consumed in large amounts, your fowl may suffer from mouth and stomach irritations.
Small quantities, however, may not really be that problem.
Should you be concerned if your chickens would eat a lot of these flowers?
No.
In fact, no need to worry at all!
Chickens do not really like buttercups.
Fowls that are unfamiliar to these flowers would most likely peck and give it a try, but that would be all.
Buttercups have a strong, bitter taste that would make any animal avoid it, including chickens.
Once they have tried tasting the flower, they would leave it alone and never attempt to eat it again.
Wrapping Up
Geraniums are one of the most accessible flowers to your chickens, considering how they are often planted in yards.
These flowers are perfectly healthy and okay for your fowls to eat, considering its many health advantages.
Be reminded, however, that not all garden plants are safe for your chickens.
This is especially true if the plants have been exposed to chemicals that could put your fowls in danger.
Having plants that are safe for them to eat and would give them benefits are great additions to include whenever they are foraging for food.
