INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Indiana feather]

oh my so tiny and precious

ETA I just love the color! Is the plant safe for chickens? for some reason it didn't post my comment the first time.

That's a good question.. the leaves are supposed to be edible for people.. not sure about chickens.. although i didn't see it on the toxic to chicken list on byc

 

[Faraday40]

Now that it is frigid.. I'm thinking of what I can plant around my chicken run next spring. I am considering planting Nasturtium..this variety called Alaska has variegated foilage and it blooms profusely throughout the summer. I figure it will pretty up the perimeter of the run as well as attract a bunch of yummy bugs for my chickens. Here is an example of it

Pretty, but can you actually grow plant near your coop? Don't your chickens just eat it?

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: Let me research it, I am always looking for something pretty and safe

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: http://www.herbcottage.com.au/blog/2010/10/herbs-for-healthy-chickens/
there are a few other links too. Fantastic find!

 

[minmin1258]

Nasturtium flowers are edible but the seeds are what I'd question. I had them around my garden this year and my girls ignored them pretty much...except trying to excavate them.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Nasturtium flowers are edible but the seeds are what I'd question. I had them around my garden this year and my girls ignored them pretty much...except trying to excavate them.

good point too. Its so hard to tell if all parts of the plant are safe including seeds. I will look at that too.

 

[Indiana feather]

Pretty, but can you actually grow plant near your coop?  Don't your chickens just eat it?

In my situation the chickens will be contained so I am trying to attract insects to the area. I thought about marigolds too. There has got to be a suitable plant to do that. That's the plan at least.

 

[hoosiercheetah]

When I left my flock yesterday afternoon, they still hadn't eaten much of their FF. I expect to find a frozen feed block in the coop this morning. It's just as well, I was thinking about switching the routine anyway. I'm going to be feeding them dry scratch in the morning, and FF in the afternoon. Maybe if they get it once a day and when it's slightly warmer, they'll get it all down before it freezes.

I wish I had a place in the house I could keep the FF bucket. I'm not convinced it's fermenting, since it's refrigerator temps at best in my garage. Of course, just having it wet is cutting down waste, so it's still worth it, I think.

Depending on finances, I'm considering another heated dog bowl to keep their feed above freezing. It's working so well for the water, it seems like the logical next step. It would sure solve a problem.


In other news, it was so cold here yesterday I didn't bother letting the hens out of the coop. There's plenty of space in there for them to spend a day or two now and again. I'm hoping today will be a little warmer.

I already can't wait for winter to be over.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone looking for some very nice boer goat does? I know a family that breeds that needs to sell a couple as soon as possible as they have more due to kid shortly. Her goats are some of the healthiest, well-kept goats that I've seen. They are located in Kewanna, Indiana.

You can send me a pm and I'll send you her information!

 

[Granny Hatchet]

In my situation the chickens will be contained so I am trying to attract insects to the area. I thought about marigolds too. There has got to be a suitable plant to do that. That's the plan at least.

marigolds repel insects. chickens do love to eat the flower though. I am wondering about sun flowers ? there are so many different ones. different heights. hollyhocks are bug magnets but a lot of them are biannual .