Feeding Biochar to chickens... Anyone tried it?

[U_Stormcrow]

So... "activated charcoal" holds onto some things and not others. In spite of it being old wisdom, the list of "what it does" and "what it doesn't" is under great dispute - and some portion of its effectiveness has to do with its physical/mechanical properties - the size of the pores and the relative surface area - as opposed to chemical properties such as pH, polar sctructure (or lack thereof), etc.

I tried looking into it once for about a day, after running across the idea in another biochar thread, and ultimatelyt gave up the effort - there isn't enough reliable information (to my satisfaction, at least). I place it in the "probably won't hurt" pile of things. Here's its SDS sheet. Or at least, one version of one.

I'm not saying its a "take two aspirin and call me in the morning" thing, but if you want to humor me/frustrate yourself, try and find dosing information on how much is needed to treat acute alcohol poisoning. We know its used medically, we know ERs are frequented by people who have drunk to excess. You would think that information about such common occurance would be widely studied and readily available on the Internet. You would think...

 

[annagoodspeed]

The “probably won’t hurt” category for animal ingestion sounds pretty appropriate at this point!

 

[djbigchic]

I've got a activated bio char bucket that I pee in, and the chickens smash heaps of it after about two weeks, its got a hole in the bottom now used to mix it with the auger but the chickens do that too now, I have recently started drinking lots(the recommended 2L) of water, half tea spoon of magnesium and fossil shell flour, its like a big bucket of food to them now

 

[1970]

Just Hatched is spot on with her information. I am a commercial manufacturer of biochar in Qld which I have been doing for 10 years so I know quite a bit about this. I am also a chicken MUM which is why I have joined your forum.

I probably can't add anything to the information Just Hatched shared as it is extensive and accurate but if anyone wants to know about char I can certainly help out there.

In the meantime I'm glad I found this site so I can learn more about my chickens. I have 10 Buff Orpingtons and a very pretty rooster. I'm travelling around Qld at the moment getting on farm with people and talking about what the char can do for their soils, crops and animals so if you have any questions about any of that just let me know.

If I may ask, how difficult is this process to start manufacturing biochar.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@centrarchid are you still using the biochar? What is your opinion of it now?

 

[Red-Stars-in-RI]

If I may ask, how difficult is this process to start manufacturing biochar.

If you've got a wood stove or have fires in a backyard fire pit, it's very easy. In a wood stove I've used small metal hotel pans with lids.

In a fire pit, I've had the best luck with empty metal paint cans. Fill it with bits of wood, poke a few air holes in the bottom, and put it in your your fire.

You'll see steam escaping first, then the off-gasses, which will actually ignite. When the gasses stop, the process is done. Let it cool and then open the the can and you should have charcoal that breaks easily and is in the shape of whatever wood you put in. You can then crush it our at least break it up smaller for the chickens.

I've used a few larger batches to toss into my "deep litter" winter coop flooring to help soak up any odors.

 

[saysfaa]

So... "activated charcoal" holds onto some things and not others. ... if you want to humor me/frustrate yourself, try and find dosing information on how much is needed to treat acute alcohol poisoning....

Source

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Source

I LOVE THIS!!!! Thank you !!!!!!!

 

[centrarchid]

@centrarchid are you still using the biochar? What is your opinion of it now?

I am not. I provided in four forms. First was as part of dust bathing mixture.

1) The chickens bathed in it and consumed some of the larger particulates. Consumption rate was not known.

2) I also mixed with into a crumbled feed mixture dry. Intake of biochar was less than proportional to other components of feed and resulted in dust left behind.

3) Mixed as above with some water to create wetted feed mixture. Consumption across the board better although labor intensive. Dried feces released a lot of dust.

4) Above option (3) pelletized and dried. Labor only important during mixing and drying steps. Feces, upon drying, also released a lot of dust.

The biochar I used was based on Miscanthus spp. The dust I think was more a function of gizzard processing as biochar particulates were not resistant to that degree of trituration.

I was much happier with how fish (rainbow trout) handled the pellets.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I am not. I provided in four forms. First was as part of dust bathing mixture.

1) The chickens bathed in it and consumed some of the larger particulates. Consumption rate was not known.

2) I also mixed with into a crumbled feed mixture dry. Intake of biochar was less than proportional to other components of feed and resulted in dust left behind.

3) Mixed as above with some water to create wetted feed mixture. Consumption across the board better although labor intensive. Dried feces released a lot of dust.

4) Above option (3) pelletized and dried. Labor only important during mixing and drying steps. Feces, upon drying, also released a lot of dust.

The biochar I used was based on Miscanthus spp. The dust I think was more a function of gizzard processing as biochar particulates were not resistant to that degree of trituration.

I was much happier with how fish (rainbow trout) handled the pellets.

Thank you. But did you perceive any benefit to the chickens from any of these processes?