You probably don’t think chickens like licorice. You definitely shouldn’t give them any! But they can get the flavor of black licorice without the sugar and additives by eating fennel and fennel seeds. Both are available in my garden right now. Chickens love them.
You can hold the fronds in the air so they jump up to grab a piece to tear off. It’s not only fun for both you and your pet, adorable to watch, it’s good exercise for chickens. Always make sure all your girls get some even if they aren’t as good as others at jumping, especially your dominant hen. Fennel fronds are also good in feeders designed to hold vegetables. As with any greenery, the chickens should be able to get bite size pieces, any way you give them, and not have to eat a whole frond in one piece.
The fennel seeds surround the stem like the petals of a flower. You can hold a stem for them to peck the seeds, and it’s a great way to encourage them to sit on your lap or even to do simple tricks. You can also just toss the stems down and let them get at the seeds themselves.
My fennel patch is a few years old and continuously produces lovely, tasty fennel fronds. They are good in salads and as a garnish on main dishes. Fennel seeds are good for a variety of food, and fresh from the garden they have the most flavor. They are so easy to care for that I don’t even think about them when I do my gardening. They are well worth keeping a spot for because of the variety of food they produce, in bulbs, fronds and seeds. All are delicious for people and chickens. My girls will beg for them.
Fennel contains vitamin C, which is absolutely necessary for laying and egg quality. Chickens can synthesize their own vitamin C, unlike humans, but dietary vitamin C may improve their growth and eggshells. It will also improve their mood, in my experience. It is fun and delicious to eat.
So, as you plan for your spring garden, make sure you leave a little corner or a planter somewhere for a bit of fennel. Be prepared to guard it with some chicken wire, though, because once your girls realize how yummy it is, they will be reluctant to wait for you to offer it to them.
charmachicken.com 