🌱 Top Herbs Your Hens Desperately Need + How to Be a Peaceful Homemaker

IN TODAY'S EDITION

1. Homestead Tip 🌱

2. Poll Results From Last Tuesday 📊

3. All Things Homestead: Herbs for Happy Hens 🌿

4. Personal Development: Modern Homemaking 101 💜

5. Today's Top Picks 🛍️

6. Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

Still Spraying Chemicals You Can’t Even Pronounce?

I’ll never forget wiping down my kitchen with a “green” cleaner, only to end up with a headache and sticky hands. I flipped the bottle over and realized I couldn’t pronounce half the ingredients… and I had no clue what was actually in my home.

That’s when I started learning how to clean naturally without the toxic overload, high prices, or overwhelm.

🌿 April Challenge: Spring Cleaning with All-Natural Cleaners

You’ll learn:

• Easy, affordable DIY cleaner recipes

• Pantry staples that work better than store-bought

• How to refresh your home without fake fragrances

This challenge is simple, step-by-step, and designed for busy women who want a safer, healthier home without the guesswork.

1. Includes printable guides, quick videos, and a private community

2. Access from your phone, any time

3. And yes, January, February & March challenges are still available too!

Your home doesn’t have to smell like chemicals to feel clean.
Let’s detox your space the easy way.

POLL RESULTS FROM LAST TUESDAY

What’s the biggest challenge you face as a homesteader?

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Time management

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Pests and predators

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Weather and climate

🟨🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️ Cost of supplies

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Motivation or burnout

via @beehiiv polls

Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉

Also, follow us on our social media accounts for daily homesteading inspiration and updates.

ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD

Herbs for Happy Hens 🌿

If you’ve ever found yourself Googling “natural remedies for chickens” at dusk while holding a sick bird, you’re not alone. Most homesteaders want strong, healthy flocks, but vet visits aren’t always realistic, and antibiotics shouldn’t be your go-to.

Thankfully, herbs can help with prevention, healing, and even coop hygiene. And no, you don’t need to be an herbalist to get started. Let me help you!

Why Herbs Matter for Your Flock

• They support the immune system: Just like with people, herbs help chickens fight off infections before they start.

• They reduce stress: Calmer chickens lay more eggs and avoid bad habits like feather picking.

• They keep the coop clean: Some herbs repel pests and make bedding smell fresher, longer.

• They promote better digestion: Healthy guts mean stronger birds and fewer health problems down the road.

Easy Herbs to Grow or Buy for Your Chickens

1. Lavender – for calm and cleanliness
Lavender helps soothe stressed hens and discourages mites. Toss a handful in nest boxes or hang bundles to dry in the coop.

2. Oregano – the natural antibiotic
Oregano fights bacteria and supports strong immune systems. Sprinkle dried oregano in feed or steep it in water like a tea.

3. Mint – cools, calms, and repels insects
Mint helps regulate body temperature in hot weather and repels flies. Use it in water dishes or mix fresh leaves into bedding.

4. Parsley – full of vitamins
Rich in vitamins A, B, and C, parsley supports egg laying and feather growth. Offer fresh clippings as a treat.

5. Thyme – respiratory support
Great during cold or damp seasons, thyme helps with breathing and warding off infections. Mix into feed or dry and crush into coop corners.

6. Basil – egg production booster
Basil improves mood and supports reproductive health. Chop and mix into their daily scratch for a simple boost.

7. Calendula – skin healer
Known for healing properties, calendula soothes irritated skin and supports digestion. Add petals to their nesting boxes or feed.

8. Dill – digestion and appetite
Dill helps with digestion and encourages good bacteria. Feed it fresh or mix dried dill with their grains.

9. Chamomile – reduces stress and fights bacteria
Chamomile calms nerves and has mild antibacterial properties. Brew a tea for their water or add dried flowers to dust baths.

How to Use Herbs with Chickens

• Mix herbs into feed: Crush dried herbs and sprinkle over their scratch or layer pellets. A little goes a long way.

• Toss herbs in nesting boxes: Add fresh or dried herbs to nesting materials. This calms hens and keeps mites away.

• Infuse water with herbs: Steep herbs like mint, oregano, or chamomile in hot water, then cool and offer as a tonic.

• Add to dust baths: Combine dried herbs with dirt and sand. This helps with pest control and gives them something to scratch through.

• Grow herbs near the coop: Let chickens self-medicate by planting herbs they can peck at when needed. Think rosemary, basil, or lemon balm.

Quick Coop Herbal Checklist

Here’s a guide you can pin on the fridge or barn door:

☐ Sprinkle dried oregano or thyme in feed

☐ Add fresh mint or parsley to water dishes

☐ Refresh nesting boxes with calendula or lavender

☐ Brew herbal tea for chicken waterers

☐ Toss chamomile or dill in dust baths

☐ Plant basil or lemon balm by the run

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Modern Homemaking 101 💜

Honestly speaking, homemaking today doesn’t look like it did for our grandmothers. Between keeping up with busy schedules, caring for kids or animals, and trying to stay ahead of the mess, many women feel like they’re running a home instead of living in it.

So to help you out, below are simple steps that can help bring more rhythm and purpose into your days.

8 Basics Every Modern Homemaker Should Focus On

Know that you don’t have to do it all. Just pick a few areas to improve and build from there.

1. Make the bed every morning: It takes five minutes but sets the tone for the whole day. Even if nothing else gets done, this one small act makes a big impact.

2. Stick to a morning and evening routine: Keep mornings simple: open windows, start laundry, prep breakfast. Evenings can include a quick tidy-up, dimming lights, and prepping for the next day.

3. Create a basic cleaning loop: Try assigning tasks to different days: Mondays for laundry, Tuesdays for floors, and so on. This helps prevent overwhelm and keeps things consistent.

4. Keep meals simple but homemade: You don’t need gourmet dishes. A rotating meal plan with 8–10 family favorites saves time, cuts waste, and eases decision-making.

5. Declutter a little each week: Tidy homes feel more peaceful. Start with one drawer or shelf each week. Keep only what you use and love.

6. Build habits over hustle: Perfection doesn’t last, but habits do. Focus on small actions done daily, like wiping counters, sweeping floors, or unloading the dishwasher before bed.

7. Create a peaceful home atmosphere: Add soft lighting, calming music, or a candle at dinner. These little touches help homes feel less rushed and more restful.

8. Involve others: Don’t carry everything alone. Teach kids or partners how to fold, wipe, clean, or prep meals. Teamwork builds confidence and shared pride in the home.

What Modern Homemakers Are Really Looking For

Many women aren’t looking for Pinterest-perfect homes. They’re looking for:

• More peace and less chaos.

• Systems that work even during busy seasons.

• Ways to feel more present with their families.

• A slower pace without guilt.

You can build a home like that… one small routine at a time.

Journaling Prompt:

What does a peaceful home look and feel like to me?

Write about what you want your home to feel like. Then, pick one habit that will help get you closer to that vision. It might be “wash dishes right after dinner” or “fold laundry before it becomes a mountain.”

Keep it small. Keep it doable.

THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER

Why don’t greenhouses play hide-and-seek?

Because they’re always transparent!

TODAY'S TOP PICKS

LET’S KEEP IT REEL!

I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!

1. Sometimes it’s just the plants being a little lazy... just kidding! 😄

@the.diy.edit

@Lauren | The DIY Edit Plants see me and immediately start to wilt. 🥀 #funnytiktok #funnyreels #relatable #relatablecontent #realreels #p... See more

2. If only we could hear what our plants really think! 😂

@philoden_jen

🤣🤣 I was laughing too hard making this one. Enjoy! 😆🤪🤗🌱 #planthumor#plantfunny#plantmeme#plantcomedy#houseplanthumor#plantjoke#plantsoftik... See more

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