12 Potentially Harmful or Toxic Herbs to Avoid in Chicken Keeping
Most herbs have wonderful health benefits for both humans and animals and have been used down through the ages to treat, prevent and cure all kinds of ailments, but not all herbs are safe.
As you likely know, I do use lots of herbs with my chickens, both in their environment and diet, but I am careful to stick to the common, culinary herbs which are safe and perfectly edible, because some herbs are toxic to chickens (and humans as well!).
Toxic Herbs
While nearly anything can be harmful in exceedingly large dosages - even plain drinking water - several herbs, beneficial as they may be at the correct dose, can cause illness or even death in fairly small amounts.
And since little to no scientific study has been done as far as a safe dose for chickens, and I'm not a vet or medical professional, I just choose to err on the side of caution and stay away from anything that could even be a potential problem.
Just because something is labeled "herbal" or "natural" doesn't mean that it's safe. And since chickens are so small, it doesn't take much to cause serious health problems.
That's why I stick with culinary herbs - safe for humans and animals.
12 Potentially Harmful or Toxic Herbs to Avoid in Chicken Keeping
But there are a few herbs that are extremely dangerous if they're ingested even in small amounts. Animals usually know what's good for them and what's not, but I still would never want these plants in or around my chicken coop and would certainly never feed them to my flock.
Caveat Emptor
Some of the following potentially harmful herbs appear in all kinds of poultry products sold commercially or in homemade concoctions sold or recommended by individuals, so you want to always check the ingredient list before using any kind of herbal supplement or product with your flock - just to be on the safe side.
Even if the chicken aren't meant to eat a particular product, I avoid any product that contains ingredients that could be potentially harmful, since as we know, chickens like to nibble and taste even things not necessarily meant to be eaten!
Here's a list of some of the potentially toxic herbs I try to stay away from. At the least, they can cause some pretty serious symptoms in your flock at high doses; at worst, most can cause death.
They are some of the prettiest flowering herbs on the planet...which just goes to show you can't judge an herb by its color!
Note: Many of these herbs are also toxic to humans and other pets and livestock and the toxins in some can be absorbed through the skin (percutaneous poisoning), so in addition to avoiding ingesting them, care should be taken when touching or handling them as well.
12 Potentially Harmful Herbs to Avoid
Here's a list of 12 potentially harmful or toxic herbs to avoid in your chicken keeping. Whether offered internally or to be used topically, I would recommend not using these around your flock.
Aloe Vera
Abdominal pain and diarrhea can be the result of ingesting aloe vera, so while it's great topically on burns and skin injuries, it's best not to use it with your chickens, who are likely to peck at anything you administer to them.
Potential Risks |
- Diarrhea
- Thinning of the blood
- Abdominal pain and cramping
Bitter Orange
Bitter orange, also called Seville or sour orange, is different from your run-of-the-mill naval or other types of oranges that we're used to finding at the grocery store. It's a hybrid fruit that is rarely eaten raw, but often made into marmalade.
Used in traditional Eastern medicine to treat nausea, digestive issues, fungal infections and more, it contains p-synephrine which is ephedra.
If your chickens get a hold of some bitter orange, that could result in loss of consciousness, stroke or a heart attack or death.
Potential Risks |
- Fainting, loss of consciousness
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Death
Comfrey
Taken internally in large enough amounts, comfrey can cause diarrhea or liver failure as well as cancer of the liver.
Better used as an external poultice to reduce swelling or inflammation and help to heal wounds, comfrey tea is recommended by many long-time chicken keepers. But just use caution and your own judgement with this one.
Potential Risks |
- Diarrhea
- Liver damage
- Liver failure
- Cancer of the liver
Eucalyptus
While not toxic itself, Eucalyptus leaves can harbor Aspergillosis spores (a dangerous fungus that can cause death in various types of birds, including chickens and ducks).
If you plan on using eucalyptus around your flock, be sure you are getting it from a reputable source to reduce the risk of Aspergillosis.
Also eucalyptus oil is incredibly toxic to both humans and animals.
Potential Risks |
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Nervous system failure
- Dizziness
- Stomach pain
- Death
Foxglove (digitalis)
Foxglove, also known as digitalis, can cause heart failure in animals and humans. It has a pretty flower, but beware!
Potential Risks |
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Upset stomach
- Irregular heartbeat
- Fatigue
- Convulsions
- Death
Henbane
- Respiratory failure
- Increased heart rate
- Convulsions
- Coma
- Death
Horse nettle, which is in the nightshade family, affects the central nervous system. It contains solanine which is a toxin. The prickly leaves normally keep animals from eating it, but even a small amount can be fatal.
Potential Risks |
- Diarrhea
- Respiratory distress
- Weakness
- Paralysis
- Death
Monkshood/Wolfsbane
- Stomach upset
- Respiratory distress
- Paralysis
- Heart failure
- Death
Pennyroyal/Fleabane
Although a member of the mint family, which is generally innocuous and perfectly safe to ingest, pennyroyal (also called fleabane) is incredibly toxic, resulting in liver failure and eventual death. So if you see a plant that looks like mint, be sure it actually is mint before using it in or around your coop. Beware that pennyroyal looks like mint, smells like mint and even tastes like mint.
Potential Risks |
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Loss of vision
- Elevated blood pressure
- Lung failure
- Liver failure
- Death
Tansy
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Bleeding
- Kidney damage
- Liver damage
- Convulsions
- Death
Tea tree is one of the more popular essential oils for everything from an anti-inflammatory, antifungal and antibacterial to exczema and healing wounds, but if taken internally and cause vomiting, paralysis, seizures, unconsciousness and even coma.
Potential Risks |
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Coma
- Death
Wormwood/Artemesia/mugwort
While wormwood is an old-timers method of battling parasites, wormwood affects the nervous system and can cause abdominal pain and convulsions which can lead to seizures if ingested in large amounts. Best to steer clear.
Potential Risks |- Nervous system disruptor
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Convulsions
- Seizures
- Liver failure
One last word on toxic herbs....
Be Very, Very Cautious Using Essential Oils
Essential oils are extremely concentrated and powerful and can be very easily misused or given in too large amounts unless you have specific training in using them or are using precise dosages, so I always opt for fresh or dried herbs instead of using oils.
There are several MLM (multi-level marketing) essential oil companies that homesteaders, specifically, are affiliates for and it's therefore in their own financial interest to get you to buy the oils.
Don't fall into the trap. Other than oregano oil which I keep in my chicken first aid kit, I don't use essential oils around my flock.
For a list of the safe, beneficial culinary herbs that I use in my chicken keeping and their various health benefits for your chickens, read HERE.
Even though nesting herbs, which I love sprinkling around my coop for my girls, aren't meant to be eaten, I still only use completely safe and edible herbs in my mixes.
Rose petals, lavender, calendula, chamomile, and peppermint are a few of the ingredients I specifically like to use.
