Comfrey in Chicken Run - How does it work?

Transplanted 2 yrs ago a row of Comfrey along the fence with the neighbours in order to suppress the bindweed and nettles trying to invade our garden. Suppression works very well and the neighbour chickens eat all the Comfrey they can reach...

I now use comfrey as an indicator plant to show soil fertility. If comfrey will thrive there, trees do well. If comfrey doesn't grow well, then your trees won't thrive either. I've watched the soil improvements we have made in the condition of the comfrey.

I have been growing comfrey since I was 11.......bought my first roots from an ad in mother earth news....fed it to the chickens,rabbits,goats and pigs. Still today I raise it where I live for rabbits,chickens,compost activation material and to make a tea for garden vegetables ☺️

I like how you call it a feedback loop because they are literally feeding it back to each other

I need to get my hands on some comfrey for our property. I've been using borage for a few years now and it's wonderful for chickens too, although I don't have it growing in their run. I just chop it when it falls over or gets out of hand and throw piles in to them. The bees love it too of course.

I've had a lot of sucess planting comfrey stems that have a node on it. Put the node under the dirt level and it will start a new plant.

Finally found two plants at a nursery. Planted between my raised beds and our back fence. Plan is to use the Comfrey as not only a weed suppressor but also for my hens and the compost. You gave me the idea . Blessings from Australia ❤️

I've had comfrey growing in my chicken area for 4-5 yrs now and they nibble on it here and there. I created a hedge with it and planted it here and there in the rest of my backyard.

Comfrey roots grow so deep and provides a great predator proof barrier. I will use this as well. I love your entire system and will adopt it.

Very useful. My comfrey is near our pond and I cut and take to the chickens. I will propagate to areas along chicken yard fence as you have done. Thank you.

When you plant the Comfrey, try laying stones or paving stones around the stem to cover the roots... It's probably a good idea to leave the stones around the base, because I also found I had some well-established Comfrey in an area that I later fenced off part of the permanent chicken pen, the chickens ate off every bit of the tops, the area became muddy with winter so I closed it off they still have not been back in there and just checking there is no Comfrey at all coming up this spring (I live in New Zealand) So I'm thinking the chickens have actually killed the Comfrey with continuous grazing. This could be something to try from anyone who has too much Comfrey.

I planted dozens of comfrey from root fragments in the chickens' run this month after seeing your videos on it, thanks for the great idea, especially since it helps keep the dreaded bermudagrass back too. Hope your lungs are healing up well, cheers.

Thank you for another wonderful video. I’m learning so much about permaculture techniques. After renting for 30 years I bought my first house on a quarter acre. I currently have my chickens on deep litter in a pen. I just got five comfrey root cuttings, which I put in pots. I’m very interested in putting them in the fence edge of their run, thank you for the idea. Incidentally, I’ve been growing herbs since I was 9. I remember about comfrey root cuttings and deciding to give it a try when I was about 12. They grew beautifully. 🌿💚

An absolute plant to cultivate! 👍

I really enjoy all your chicken videos. Thanks for mentioning that you plant your amaranth near the fence … what a great idea!!

Thank you Sean for your continuing inspiration. I've been watching for a long time now and am continually getting new ideas from you for managing my chickens. I just love the growing of amaranth and hanging that on the fence - will certainly give that a go! And I hadn't thought of establishing some comfrey plants right where the chickens are - I've mostly been cut and carrying! Thanks again for sharing all of this amazing content!!

WOW SO MUCH LIFE!! This is so great I’ve been waiting for this!!! Thank you so so so much!!!! This video is great!!!

I tried growing comfrey from root fragments and despite weed pressure and drought most of them sprouted. Thanks for another great video on the benefits of comfrey!

Beautiful video. Fantastic relationship between the chooks and the comfrey.

Great idea to hang the amaranth! I planted some this year, so I will try that.