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?
Has anyone fed wood ash to their flock?
- Thread starter Bsmac
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The Birb King
Bird is the word
Ive never heard of feeding it to them, I doubt they would eat it anyway but they can use it for dust bathing
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.
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.
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.
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.
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- #5
If I decide to try it, we burn wood for heat so not a problem getting good charcoal!
Charcoal is not the same as ash.
One thing I forgot to mention, just in case: activated charcoal will negate the effects of any ingested medications, so do not feed charcoal to any birds who are being medicated.
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- #8
Yes! Ash is wood that has completely burned and no combustible part of the wood is left. Charcoal is wood that is only partially burned.
Charcoal is a porous, black, carbon-rich material made by heating organic matter, such as wood, in a low-oxygen environment.
That part is important.
That part is important.
Like Tomte and WingItRanch, I have seen some of mine eating ash and possibly charcoal (there are often little pieces scattered about in the ash after a bonfire) when dustbathing in it, and they were none the worse for wear afterwards.
If you offer it separately then (1) they can choose whether or not to consume it, rather than mix it in with whatever you feed them and thereby sort of force-feed them it, and (2) you can observe any differences in the health of those that choose to eat it versus those that decline it.
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