Has anyone fed wood ash to their flock?

[Bsmac]

I have seen some articles on the health benefits of feeding some charcoal to chickens. Has anyone tried it, if so did you notice any changes in their health?

 

[The Birb King]

Ive never heard of feeding it to them, I doubt they would eat it anyway but they can use it for dust bathing

 

[TOMTE]

It seems animals will instinctively ingest charcoal if they happen on it, because it binds with toxins and flushes them out.

Wood ash won't contain the good stuff that charcoal does as it has burnt down to basically nothing, and it might have toxins in it depending on what else has been burnt. It is good for dust bathing, though.

If you want to try feeding your chooks charcoal, you'll want natural wood charcoal (not the briquettes you get for grilling), and make sure the wood isn't treated with anything.

 

[WingItRanch]

I use wood ash and small bits of charcoal in the dust bath and the chickens will eat some. Usually their poo turns dark afterwards but I haven't seen any difference in their health.

I don't think I'd offer it as a food source but if they happen to eat some out of the dust bath, then no harm.

 

[Bsmac]

It seems animals will instinctively ingest charcoal if they happen on it, because it binds with toxins and flushes them out.

Wood ash won't contain the good stuff that charcoal does as it has burnt down to basically nothing, and it might have toxins in it depending on what else has been burnt. It is good for dust bathing, though.

If you want to try feeding your chooks charcoal, you'll want natural wood charcoal (not the briquettes you get for grilling), and make sure the wood isn't treated with anything.

If I decide to try it, we burn wood for heat so not a problem getting good charcoal!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Charcoal is not the same as ash.