Comfrey good for chicken feed?

[Thayer]

I planted 4 plants around my chicken house. My ducks and chickens love it

I found the plants at farmers market. Talked a long time to the gentleman and his wife. Only said good things for animals they can eat.

 

[Butchers Wife]

I was about to post an entry on comfrey today (been going to for some time, months) I read about in the 60s as a useful medicinal herb and feed for anmals. Didn't use/need that then. Now that we have the chickens i do. I tried to find some in the local plant sources, had no success, some had knowlwdge of it but no one could even provide source. Online I found an herb source that had two types. "True Comfrey", medicinal, fertile, original, and equisite," and "Russian blocking 14 cultivar", the one used for animal feed. I purchased some of each, planted the Russian next to the run so birds could nibble it through the fenceing but it could still grow to maturity for harvest and saved for winter feeding. That's the important part to most of us i guess . NOW What i want to know is if anyone has harvested this stuff for their chikns and how to keep it fron decaying. I have,in years past, dried herbs & flowers.

DM, Allantoin is found in very small amounts in both species. Longtime use would indicate that is useful, not harmful. It's a cell proliferant used for healing.

I read somewhere, years ago, that you can string it and dry it in the rafters (barn, attic, whatever you got I guess). Don't tie it in bunches, but string them loosely like a garland. Maybe use a needle and fishing line. After their dry you can pull out the string and pack them down tightly in dry containers. Save your feed bags.

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

I’m growing some comfrey this year for my flock. Haven’t harvested any yet, but looking forward to supplementing my flocks diet with some greenery.

 

[FabledFeatherFarm]

I was about to post an entry on comfrey today (been going to for some time, months) I read about in the 60s as a useful medicinal herb and feed for anmals. Didn't use/need that then. Now that we have the chickens i do. I tried to find some in the local plant sources, had no success, some had knowlwdge of it but no one could even provide source. Online I found an herb source that had two types. "True Comfrey", medicinal, fertile, original, and equisite," and "Russian blocking 14 cultivar", the one used for animal feed. I purchased some of each, planted the Russian next to the run so birds could nibble it through the fenceing but it could still grow to maturity for harvest and saved for winter feeding. That's the important part to most of us i guess . NOW What i want to know is if anyone has harvested this stuff for their chikns and how to keep it fron decaying. I have,in years past, dried herbs & flowers.

DM, Allantoin is found in very small amounts in both species. Longtime use would indicate that is useful, not harmful. It's a cell proliferant used for healing.

Hi Bob, we’ve been growing comfrey for our chickens for a few years now, and last year was the first year we had enough to save some going into fall. Seemed to work well hanging huge bundles from our shed rafters to dry and leaving them there until we needed them. Not sure how much we can store that way, or how well it keeps past December, but it was a good start anyway.