Herbs for Hen Health: Coriander

Photo of Kassandra Smith

Kassandra Smith

Senior Editor • Backyard Chicken Coops

Last Updated: 15 July 2020

Coriander is a herb that people generally love or hate thanks to it’s incredibly powerful taste and strong fragrance. If you’re a chicken person you will soon learn to love this herb thanks to it’s many health benefits for your feathered fellows. Coriander grows better in the cooler months of the year and struggle in Summer, so it’s important to keep this in mind prior to planting. To allow for optimum growth for this herb, make sure it is planted in a sunny spot and is spoilt with a steady supply of water and fertiliser.

bundle of coriander leaves and stalks

Good for your Hens

Because of it’s antioxidant properties, coriander helps keep fungus at bay for your feathered fellows, so add a handful to your chickens nesting box, or mix it into their feed to help harness this. This herb is high in Vitamin A which promotes good eye and bone health, as well as Vitamin K for blood clotting, only adding to it’s super power.

Good for your Garden

Coriander and cabbage are a perfect pair in your garden thanks to the fragrant herb attracting hoverflies, which in turn can reduce pest populations in your cabbages.

Good for You

Coriander is packed with potential health benefits that can assist with skin inflammation and disorders, help in lowering cholesterol levels, reducing blood pressure, prevention of anemia, preventing nausea, bone and eye health and digestion! This is all thanks to it being packed with eleven components of essential oils, six types of acids, and a number of vitamins and minerals-who would've thought!

When working with herbs, there are a few simple rules to follow to keep your hens at the height of their health…

  • Some herbs will spoil very quickly, especially in summer, so be sure to refresh them every few days to really harness their goodness.

  • Remember! Treats in moderation-don’t overdo it. If you are unsure how much to give to your girls, it is best to check with your local vet.

  • Like with all herbal treatments each works differently based on the individual, and the same goes for chickens too. So keep this in mind and be sure to check for any reactions, allergies or particular dislikes.

Choosing the best ingredients, including beneficial herbs like Coriander, to prepare nutritious mealtimes for optimal chicken health can be stressful and confusing. Many health issues experienced by our girls are due to an imbalanced diet. You might find yourself asking: what to feed, when to feed, how to feed, and why?! 

Cluckily, there is no need to be overwhelmed by all the options because our friends at Chickenpedia can help you find out what’s best for your flock at all ages. This is why I recommend their Feeding Pecking Chickens Course to all my readers. Through their course, unearth nutrient-rich foods to help your chickens stay healthy, live longer, and produce the best eggs. Keep those yolks nice and yellow! The course shares advice and information on the best food for your flock as well as quantity control, storage, and timing for feeds.

Feeding time is also a great one for entertainment and this course provides bonus content filled with DIY boredom busters, toys, and treats for your flock. Become an eggspert and gain the confidence needed to choose the right chicken feed and know which ones to avoid.

Be sure to click here to visit Chickenpedia today to check out ALL of their amazing courses.

Sources and further reading