The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

Danib: Well oregano in general is healthy, I just thought it would be easiest to give it to them in the water.
I give it occasionally to my big flock mixed in rehydrated alfalfa pellets (in winter) or rehydrated shredded coconut (in summer)
I've also dosed individual chickens who were suspected of worms with a chunk of sourdough bread with a single drop soaked into it. Seemed to work after giving it to them for a few days straight.

I'm not sure if Oregano has any de-worming properties. It does have antibiotic properties, though. Check out my blog (in my signature), click on the "Index" link and find the post on herbs and their uses. For worms you mostly want the seeds of pumpkins, cucumbers and squash, as well as a few of the herbs listed there.

ACK! I wonder if I could figure out a feed formula that doesn't include corn for chickens. Heck, I wonder if I can figure out feed for myself that doesn't include corn or any gmo stuff....
Monsanto's Roundup Herbicide—Featuring the Darth Vader Chemical
http://action.responsibletechnology.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=11129

I don't believe anything I hear unless it is backed up by good science... and this stuff is freaky! Wow! Thanks for posting this link - it makes so much more sense to me now than just people telling me that "GMO corn is BAD!"

Absolutely...
Is your reasoning for wanting to avoid corn because most of it is gmo, or because you just don't want to feed corn?
Will be glad to help with ration... where do you live? do you have access to local grains? is there a feed store or coop that can order grains for you?

My goal was to develop a ration that was non-gmo and had no soy. I do feed corn, but feed non-gmo corn.
To that I add field peas and either wheat or oats.
I ferment that... then add Nutribalancer, Alfalfa, sometimes Kelp, and different amounts of limestone and Fish Meal depending on the management group I'm feeding (what levels of certain things they need like protein).

To get a decent amount of protein for layers without adding too much Fish meal (it's not cheap and too much will give you fishy eggs), using field peas is the best thing I've found. JMO of course.

RedRidge - I would love it if you did a write-up on how you figure out feed portions so it could be posted on the thing for quick reference. And yes - it could be updated as you make more discoveries.

 

[cywiar merch]

Mealworms, I tried raising them, I gave up after two colony crashes and then very little progress, takes forever to get enough to feed out any at all, and no where near on a daily basis.

.

I thought mealworms are too high in fat content to be fed to chickens everyday anyway?

 

[delisha]

Well, after realizing that I will be getting around 8 dozen eggs a week after the birds start laying, I'm trying to figure out what I'll do with all of them! lol Me and my family usually only eat 2-3 dozen a week, so that around 5 dozen I have to deal with. How do you get rid of your access eggs???

Quote: mealworms are lower in fat than corn..it is a great source of meat protein and releases little pollutants. If you grow your own, it is less expensive than fish meal. Higher meat proteins and lower grain proteins makes happy chickens.


Mealworms

Per 100g (basic nutritional content):



Fat 27.2%
Protein 49.6%
Carbohydrates 6.9 grams
Calories: 471 calories
Fibre: 3.1%
Calcium: 420 ppm



Corn
100g

Calories
606

Carbohydrate
497

Fat
65.8


Protein
42.7


Read More http://nutritiondata.self.com/facts/cereal-grains-and-pasta/5687/2#ixzz2Uc6ruVKk

 

[bluebirdnanny]

Quote:
My extras will be going to "The Caring Place" where they pass out boxes of food to each household based on number in family.

 

[loanwizard]

Here is a link to the covered feeder made from a pallet or two.

http://www.ohioporkandpoultry.com/1/post/2013/05/making-a-covered-feeder-from-pallets.html

Total cuts 14. Total time, about an hour.


Shawn

 

[stonykill]

 

[delisha]

lol..how freaked out will she be when they jump in the water? I have one on a nest of duck eggs too.

 

[delisha]

Here is a link to the covered feeder made from a pallet or two.

http://www.ohioporkandpoultry.com/1/post/2013/05/making-a-covered-feeder-from-pallets.html

Total cuts 14. Total time, about an hour.


Shawn

Very nice..

 

[stonykill]

lol..how freaked out will she be when they jump in the water? I have one on a nest of duck eggs too.

I can't wait

 

[Leahs Mom]

Here is a link to the covered feeder made from a pallet or two.

http://www.ohioporkandpoultry.com/1/post/2013/05/making-a-covered-feeder-from-pallets.html

Total cuts 14. Total time, about an hour.


Shawn

Just took a look and commented too. Just as I visualized from your description except I thought you'd enclose the ends of the "V" of the trough and I thought the roof would be closer to the feeder. I really like it!