Grow Your Own or Buy—Naturally Support Your Hens

Creating a cozy, healthy space for your laying hens starts with more than just straw and shavings—it starts with the right herbs.

Nesting box herbs provide natural support for your chickens by calming stress, repelling pests, and even boosting immunity. With the right blend, your hens will want to lay in their boxes!

If you love DIY or gardening, you can grow your own nesting box herb mix right in your backyard. And if you want to save time, you can grab my Nesting Box Herbs for Chickens blend—it’s pre-mixed with all 9 powerhouse herbs your hens will thank you for!

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🌿 What Are Nesting Box Herbs?

They’re a blend of chicken-safe, aromatic herbs that create a clean, inviting, and wellness-boosting nesting area. Many backyard chicken keepers swear by them to promote healthy laying, deter pests, and even improve the scent of the coop.

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🪴 Chicken Nesting Box Herbs Recipe: The 9 Essential Herbs

These nine herbs each bring powerful benefits to your coop:

1. Marigold (Calendula)

• 🐛 Natural insect repellent
• 🌸 Helps brighten egg yolks
• 🌿 Soothes irritated skin

2. Chamomile

• 😌 Calms stress and anxiety in hens
• 🌿 Antibacterial and antifungal
• 💤 Encourages restful nesting

3. Peppermint

• 🌬️ Cooling and refreshing scent
• 🐜 Deters mice and insects
• 💨 Helps clear respiratory pathways

4. Parsley

• 💪 Nutrient-rich (Vitamin A, K, iron)
• 🍳 May support stronger eggshells
• 🌱 Stimulates laying gently

5. Rosemary

• 🐜 Powerful bug repellent
• 💪 Boosts circulation and immunity
• 🌿 Antioxidant-rich

6. Fennel Seed

• 🌱 Encourages hens to lay
• 🧘 Eases digestion and gas
• 🌼 Attracts hens to the nesting box

7. Dandelion Leaf

• 💧 Supports liver and kidney detox
• 🛡️ Immune-boosting
• 🌱 High in calcium and vitamins

8. Marjoram

• 🍳 Known for stimulating egg production
• 🌿 Natural antibacterial
• 🧘 Eases stress and tension

9. Lavender

• 😌 Calming, reduces pecking
• 🌸 Repels insects
• 🌿 Encourages restful egg-laying

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🏡 How to Grow a Chicken Nesting Box Herb Garden

Set aside a small area in your yard (raised beds or large planters work great!) with full sun and good drainage. You don’t need a lot of space to grow a robust herb patch for your flock!

🗓️ When to Plant These Herbs:

💡 Tip: Harvest herbs just before they flower for the most potent oils and aroma.

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🌿 How to Dry Your Own Herbs After Harvesting

Once you’ve harvested your herbs for your chicken nesting boxes, the next step is drying them properly to preserve their beneficial properties and make storage easy. Here’s how to do it:

🌬️ Air Drying (Best for leafy herbs like lavender, marjoram, rosemary, and mint)

• Bundle small bunches of herbs together using twine or a rubber band.
• Hang upside down in a warm, dry, well-ventilated area out of direct sunlight (a garage, pantry, or shed works great).
• Allow 1–2 weeks for herbs to fully dry, depending on humidity.

🍃 Using a Dehydrator (Best for faster drying or thicker herbs like chamomile or dandelion leaves)

• Set your dehydrator to the lowest setting (usually 95°F–115°F).
• Spread herbs in a single layer on trays.
• Check every few hours—most herbs dry fully in 4–12 hours.

🧺 Oven Drying (Quick method for small batches)

• Set your oven to the lowest temperature (170°F or below).
• Place herbs on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Leave the oven door slightly open to allow moisture to escape.
• Dry for 1–3 hours, checking often to avoid over-drying.

🌡️ How to Know When They’re Ready

• Leaves should be crisp and crumble easily between your fingers.
• Flowers like chamomile or lavender should be completely dry but retain their color and aroma.

🫙 Storage Tips

• Store your dried herbs in airtight glass jars or resealable kraft pouches.
• Keep them in a cool, dark place to maintain potency.
• Label each jar with the herb name and drying date.

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🐔 DIY Nesting Box Herbs Recipe: How to Combine Your Homegrown Herbs

If you’ve grown and dried your own herbs, you’re just one step away from creating a calming, health-boosting blend for your hens’ nesting boxes. Here’s how to combine them the right way:

🌿 Nesting Box Herb Blend Recipe

Ingredients (dried):

• 1 part Marigold petals
• 1 part Chamomile flowers
• 1 part Peppermint leaves
• 1 part Parsley leaves
• 1 part Rosemary leaves
• ½ part Fennel seeds
• 1 part Dandelion leaf
• 1 part Marjoram
• 1 part Lavender buds

🧂 “1 part” can be any unit of measurement you prefer (1 cup, ½ cup, etc.), depending on how large a batch you’re making.

🛠️ Instructions for Making Your Own Herbs for Chickens:

• Combine all dried herbs in a large mixing bowl or container.
• Stir gently to evenly distribute the herbs and seeds.
• Store your blend in an airtight jar or paper pouch in a cool, dry area until ready to use.

🪹 How to Use:

• Sprinkle 1–2 tablespoons of the blend into each clean nesting box weekly—or more often as needed.
• Refresh herbs after coop cleanings for continuous aroma, pest deterrence, and calming effects.

🌿 Don’t Want to Grow Your Own?

If you’d rather skip the growing, drying, and mixing process, I’ve got you covered. My Nesting Box Herbs for Chickens blend is:

• ✔️ Ready to sprinkle directly in your nesting boxes
• ✔️ Made with all 9 of the herbs above
• ✔️ 100% natural and chicken-safe

👉 Click here to get your Nesting Box Herbs

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✅ Final Thoughts

Adding herbs to your nesting boxes is an easy way to upgrade your chickens’ health and happiness. Whether you grow your own or choose the convenience of a ready-made blend, your hens will reward you with healthier, stress-free laying.

Ready to support your hens naturally? Start planting—or start sprinkling—today!