How to create a hen-friendly garden

The British Hen Welfare Trust share their top tips to strike a perfect balance.

Is there a more joyful sight than chickens pottering around the garden on a warm sunny day? With gardens blooming, now’s the perfect time to think about creating a hen-friendly space which looks great and both you and your feathered friends can enjoy.

SAFE SPACE 

It’s wonderful to watch your flock explore the garden, but it’s best to keep hens in a fixed and secure run when unsupervised to protect them from predators. This has the added benefit of preserving your precious planted areas when you’re not around to keep a watchful eye. 

Adding some greenery around and inside the run is a good way to make sure your hens don’t miss out on the fun. Plant climbers such as clematis and honeysuckle at the base of the fence to grow up alongside it, and if there’s room in the run, add some fruit trees and bushes. This creates areas of interest as well as shade and the occasional tasty treat. 

PERFECT PLANTING 

It won’t come as a surprise that there are lots of plants that hens like to eat. Herbs are especially tasty to hens, and some even have added benefits. These include comfrey (a source of protein and calcium), rosemary (helps to repel nasty insects), thyme (good for their respiratory system), sage (an antioxidant) and lavender (can be calming). Hens also enjoy foraging vegetables such as chard and fennel. 

Aside from veg and herbs, chickens do like to nibble on grass. In fact, if you have too many free-ranging around a small garden, it may not stay green for too long! Please be sure to read our advice on grass clippings below. 

PROBLEM PLANTS