Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic

This herbal tonic helps to wake up and energize the body after a long winter.

With spring in the air, it's time for nature to wake up again. There are tiny green sprouts peeking through the still partially frozen earth, and that means its time to make my Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic.

It's the perfect elixir to boost your own or your chickens' health naturally, and it's super easy to make!

One thing I love about using herbal remedies is that for the most part they act the same in a chicken's body as they do in humans, so I can adapt so much of what I read about herbs for people for use in my chicken keeping.

Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic

This tonic is a perfect example because it uses weeds that the chickens love anyway, namely dandelion greens and chickweed.

Depending on where you live, you might be able to find herbs and weeds growing right through the winter, so this tonic can be made year round. Otherwise, early spring is the perfect time to to foraging!

What's in Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic?

The ingredients in my Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic have been specifically chosen to:

aid digestion

detoxify the body

wake up the body after a long winter of reduced activity

help to purify the blood

stimulate liver functions

All important bodily functions and all equally beneficial for you or for your chickens, this tonic is a great pick-me-upper to get energized and ready for spring!

I mean who doesn't need a little pick-me-up right about now? And I love that this tonic is so beneficial for people AND chickens! So be sure you make a double batch!

Health Benefits of the Spring Herbs

Chickweed | Soothes mucous membranes, aids in digestive health, purifies and cleanses blood, high in B vitamins and Omega-6

Clover | Detoxifier, stimulates the liver and digestive system, aids in respiratory and circulatory health

Dandelion | Stimulate the digestion system, act as a detoxifier and diuretic, help control internal parasites

It's fun to go outside and walk around your yard or property trying to find various weeds, but if you can't find them all, just use what you do have.

Spring Chicken Herbal Tonic

What you Need

3 cups water

2 Tablespoons Dandelion Root

2 Tablespoons Dandelion Greens

2 Tablespoons Chickweed

2 Tablespoons Clover

Honey, optional

What you Do |

Rinse the plants, making sure to rinse all the dirt off the dandelion root. Bring the water to a boil in a saucepan and add the root. Simmer for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile place the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour the hot liquid over the fresh herbs. Steep for 20 minutes, then strain the liquid into a pint jar.

You can drink the tonic warm (add a bit of honey to taste, if desired) or serve room temperature to your chickens and ducks with the strained solids on the side.

They will just love the tonic (and the steeped weeds), and they'll be healthier if you incorporate it as a regular part of their diet each spring.

Serve to your flock free-choice as often as desired or whenever you can find the weeds and herbs to make a batch.

Makes about one pint.

Note: If your chickens free range they'll likely seek out these weeds on their own with laser-like missile guidance. And if you don't feel like making the tonic, hand picking these weeds for your chickens if they're penned up will be super beneficial as well.