Chicken University · Backyard Homestead · 5 min read
Your chicken coop doesn't have to be an eyesore. With the right plants around it, it can actually become one of the nicest corners of your backyard. And beyond looks, the right plantings can do real work: providing shade, repelling insects, deterring predators, and even supplementing your flock's diet.
The key word is right. Chickens will eat, scratch, and destroy plants they can reach, so the goal is a planting strategy that works with your flock rather than against it. Here's what to grow, where to grow it, and what to keep away from your girls entirely.
What the Right Plants Can Do for Your Setup
Before we get into specific plants, it's worth understanding what you're actually trying to accomplish. The best coop plantings do one or more of the following.
They provide shade. A coop in full afternoon sun gets hot fast, especially in summer. Tall plants or shrubs on the south and west sides of the coop can meaningfully reduce heat buildup and keep your flock more comfortable without any additional infrastructure.
They repel insects and pests. Certain herbs and flowering plants are natural deterrents for flies, mites, mosquitoes, and other insects that are drawn to coops. Growing them nearby keeps pest pressure lower with zero effort after planting.
They deter predators. Dense, thorny shrubs planted around the perimeter of a run make it harder for ground predators to approach quietly. A fox or raccoon prefers easy access. Obstacles slow them down.
They feed your flock. Some plants can be grown just inside or along the edge of the run so hens can peck at them directly. Herbs, greens, and certain flowers are nutritious supplements that cost nothing once established.
They make the whole setup look intentional and beautiful. This one matters more than people admit. A coop that looks like a deliberate part of the backyard is easier to live with, easier to sell to skeptical partners, and a lot more satisfying to look at every morning.
Herbs to Plant Near the Coop
Herbs are the workhorses of coop-side planting. Most are easy to grow, come back year after year, smell wonderful, and do double duty as pest deterrents and flock supplements.
Lavender is one of the best plants you can put near a coop. It repels flies and moths, smells incredible, and can be tucked into nesting boxes as a natural freshener. Plant it along the sunny side of the coop where it will thrive with minimal attention.
Mint spreads aggressively, which makes it a nuisance in a garden bed but a great choice around a coop perimeter where you want ground coverage. It repels rodents, flies, and ants, and hens enjoy pecking at it in small amounts. Plant it in containers if you don't want it taking over.
Rosemary is a natural insect repellent, thrives in full sun, and grows into a dense bushy shrub over time that can double as a visual barrier. It's also evergreen in mild climates, so it provides year-round coverage.
Oregano is worth planting both near the coop and inside the run. It has natural antimicrobial properties and is one of the most researched herbs for supporting flock health. Hens will eat it readily and seem to seek it out.
Thyme is another dual-purpose herb, useful as a ground cover around the coop and as a supplement for your hens. It's low-growing, spreads naturally, and holds up well even in high-traffic areas near the run entrance.
Calendula, sometimes called pot marigold, is not technically an herb but earns a spot here. It repels aphids and other insects, produces cheerful orange and yellow flowers all season, and the petals are edible for your flock. Hens love them and the flowers are said to deepen egg yolk color.
Shrubs and Taller Plants for Shade and Structure
For shade and structure around the coop, you want plants that get tall enough to actually block afternoon sun and provide visual screening without being so aggressive that they damage the coop or run over time.
Sunflowers are a seasonal favorite. They grow fast, provide excellent summer shade, produce seeds your hens will go absolutely wild for, and look stunning behind a coop. Plant them on the south or west side in late spring and let them do their thing. They are annuals so you will replant each year, but they reseed themselves readily once established.
Elderberry is a native shrub that grows quickly into a tall, multi-stemmed plant with large flat flower heads and dark berries in late summer. It provides excellent shade, the flowers and ripe berries are fine for chickens in moderation, and it attracts beneficial insects. Give it room because it can get large.
Comfrey is beloved in the homesteading world for good reason. It grows vigorously, produces enormous leaves that are high in nutrients, and can be cut back repeatedly throughout the season. Toss the leaves into the run as a green supplement and your hens will devour them. It also accumulates nutrients from deep in the soil and is excellent for composting coop waste.
Ornamental grasses planted around the perimeter of a run add texture, movement, and a soft visual buffer between the coop and the rest of the yard. They are generally not interesting to chickens and hold up well to the environment around a coop.
Plants That Deter Predators
This one is underused and worth paying attention to. Dense, thorny, or prickly plants around the base of a run create a physical and psychological barrier for ground predators. A raccoon or fox that has to push through hawthorn or rose canes to reach the run will often move on to easier targets.
Rugosa roses are tough, fragrant, produce beautiful flowers and rose hips, and have seriously aggressive thorns. Plant them along the outer perimeter of the run and they will do quiet predator-deterrent work while looking completely intentional and lovely.
Hawthorn is a thorny native shrub or small tree that is nearly impenetrable when mature. It takes a few years to establish but becomes a formidable barrier. Birds love the berries in fall and it provides excellent habitat for beneficial wildlife.
Holly works similarly and has the advantage of being evergreen, so it provides year-round coverage. Keep in mind that holly berries are toxic to chickens so plant it outside the reach of your flock.
What to Plant Inside or Along the Run
If you want to give your hens something to forage directly, the run edge is the place to do it. The trick is planting on the outside of the run wire so hens can peck through but can't destroy the root system entirely.
Plantain, the common backyard weed, is actually a highly nutritious forage plant that hens love. Let it grow along the outside of the run and watch them work at it through the wire. Dandelion is equally beloved and equally nutritious. Both are free if you stop pulling them.
Kale, Swiss chard, and other hardy greens can be grown just outside the run edge and allowed to grow into the wire for hens to graze. They grow back quickly and provide a steady stream of fresh greens without you having to harvest and carry anything.
Plants to Keep Away From Your Flock
Not everything in a backyard garden is safe for chickens. Some common plants are toxic and should not be grown where hens can reach them.
Avoid foxglove, which is highly toxic. Rhubarb leaves are toxic to chickens even though the stalks are fine for people. Nightshade plants including tomato and potato leaves are toxic, though ripe tomato fruit is fine in moderation. Azaleas and rhododendrons are toxic and unfortunately common in suburban yards. Daffodil bulbs and plants are toxic. Wisteria is toxic. If you are unsure about a specific plant, a quick search before planting near the run is always worth it.
Putting It All Together
The best coop planting strategy layers function and beauty at the same time. Herbs close to the coop for pest control and easy harvesting. Taller shrubs and sunflowers on the sun-facing sides for shade. Thorny shrubs along the run perimeter for predator deterrence. Edible plants along the outside of the run wire for foraging.
You don't have to do all of this at once. Start with a few lavender plants and a row of sunflowers and build from there each season. Within a year or two you will have a coop corner that looks like it belongs in a backyard homestead magazine and works harder than you ever expected.
A beautiful planting starts with a beautiful coop to build around. [Shop OverEZ Chicken Coops →]