Turn Chicken Waste Into Garden Gold
One of the biggest advantages of keeping chickens is access to a steady supply of manure and bedding material that can be composted and returned to the garden.
Chicken manure is rich in nutrients that plants love, but it should always be composted before being added to garden beds. Throughout June, continue adding coop cleanings, bedding, grass clippings, leaves, and kitchen scraps to your compost pile.
By the time planting season rolls around next year, you'll have nutrient-rich compost that helps improve soil structure, water retention, and overall plant health.
Let Chickens Help With Pest Control
As temperatures warm up, garden pests become more active. Many chicken owners are surprised by just how effective their flock can be at controlling insects.
Chickens love hunting for:
- Beetles
- Grasshoppers
- Ticks
- Larvae
- Small caterpillars
- Various garden insects
Allowing supervised access to garden areas after harvest or during bed preparation can help reduce pest populations naturally while giving your chickens enrichment and exercise.
Just be sure to keep them away from young seedlings and delicate plants—they can be a little too enthusiastic when searching for bugs!
Improve Soil Naturally
Before planting new areas or refreshing garden beds, many homesteaders use chickens as natural tillers.
A portable chicken tractor or temporary fencing can allow birds to scratch through designated sections of soil. As they search for insects and seeds, they help loosen the top layer of soil while naturally adding organic matter.
This can save time and reduce the amount of manual work needed to prepare certain garden spaces.
Grow Fresh Greens for Your Flock
June is also a great time to grow fresh treats specifically for your chickens.
One easy option is Healthy Greens Wheatgrass. This fast-growing wheatgrass can be planted directly in your garden, raised beds, containers, or dedicated growing trays. Once established, it provides chickens with fresh greens they can peck at and enjoy throughout the growing season.
Growing your own wheatgrass offers several benefits:
- Provides fresh, natural forage
- Encourages natural pecking behavior
- Adds variety to your flock's diet
- Easy to grow in small spaces
- Suitable for chickens of all ages
Many chicken owners enjoy planting multiple patches throughout the summer so they always have a fresh supply ready for their flock.
Use Garden Scraps Wisely
June gardens often produce plenty of extra leaves, trimmings, and vegetable scraps.
Many of these leftovers can become healthy treats for chickens, helping reduce waste while giving birds additional enrichment.
Some flock favorites include:
- Lettuce
- Kale
- Swiss chard
- Cucumber
- Zucchini
- Herbs
Always research foods before feeding them to your flock and avoid anything that may be harmful to poultry.
Create a More Sustainable Backyard
One of the best parts of homesteading is finding ways for different parts of your property to work together.
Your chickens help create compost for the garden. The garden produces greens and treats for your chickens. Both contribute to healthier soil, fewer pests, and a more productive backyard ecosystem.
By taking advantage of these natural partnerships throughout June, you'll spend less time fighting problems and more time enjoying the rewards of your hard work.
June is the perfect time to strengthen the connection between your garden and your flock. Whether you're composting coop waste, using chickens for pest control, improving soil, or growing fresh Healthy Greens Wheatgrass, small efforts now can pay off all summer long.
A thriving garden and a healthy flock often go hand in hand—and June is the ideal month to help both flourish.
