The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

I've never overseeded before but that is what I was planning on trying. Just spreading the see right on top of the snow/ground.

There are some folks with sheep not too far from us. The lady's son told me she got a seed mix and put it in a regular grass seed thingy that you push to distribute the seed. He took me out in the pasture and showed me the area they seeded and it was lush and green and obviously thriving. Definitely looked different than the rest of their pasture.

That gave me the thought to try it out myself. I just have to figure out where to get seed. I guess I should call the feed mill and ask them if there is a seed mill around that gets non-gmo seeds.

I'm not even sure what I want to put out there. I'm not real excited about any legume (including alfalfa). I'd like to find some grasses that may have been native to this area if possible. And, like so many things, I procrastinate and haven't contacted anyone yet.

It's getting late!

 

[stonykill]

not EVEN going to try to catch up

 

[CoopChick719]

Well just culled my girl that had been popping out yellow yolks, no shell, just balls of yolk. She went quietly. I wish I'd noticed it for what it was sooner. RIP RIR.

 

[delisha]

herb list for chickens..I never remember them all..it is on the other chicken place

garlic, onion, chickweed dandelion, fennel, wormwood, rue, cleavers, cress, marigold, mint, vervain, comfrey, mullein roots, thyme, marjoram, sage, nasturtium, mugwort, goats rue, gotu kola and parsley and nettles.I use citrus peeling in nest boxes to deter bugs too.


Once a month leaves such as horseradish, garlic, wormwood, tansy, elder, santolina, rue hyssop, goats rue, can be mixed with onions, grated carrots, mustard and pumpkin seeds and then added to feed at a rate of about 20%.
Nasturtium leaves and seeds have antiseptic and medicinal properties and are also good wormers.

Artemisia’s such as southernwood, wormwood, and other insect repellant herbs like tansy and fennel, when grown near the chicken coops can be used to control external parasites. Other good insecticidal herbs are rosemary, catnip, feverfew, and lavender.
These can also be grown near the places they forage so the chickens can brush past them or nibble on them.

 

[Scott H]

Quote:
No, if that were true chickens would not get worms. That was my argument. They would of by natural selection, over the centuries, developed an natural immunity.

Quote:
Your environment and climate may not have many worms for your chickens to pick up. They tend to like warm, moist places. I do not give cayenne or pumpkin seeds and my chickens don't have worms. I have my dogs and cats tested yearly here in north Idaho and they have never tested positive for worms. Mice are one of the best vectors of worms so if they were here you would figure the cats would have worms. They never have.
Have fun with your game cam! I think you'll be surprised at what happens around the place when the lights are out! Share your pictures please.

 

[Scott H]

herb list for chickens..I never remember them all..it is on the other chicken place

garlic, onion, chickweed dandelion, fennel, wormwood, rue, cleavers, cress, marigold, mint, vervain, comfrey, mullein roots, thyme, marjoram, sage, nasturtium, mugwort, goats rue, gotu kola and parsley and nettles.I use citrus peeling in nest boxes to deter bugs too.


Once a month leaves such as horseradish, garlic, wormwood, tansy, elder, santolina, rue hyssop, goats rue, can be mixed with onions, grated carrots, mustard and pumpkin seeds and then added to feed at a rate of about 20%.
Nasturtium leaves and seeds have antiseptic and medicinal properties and are also good wormers.

Artemisia’s such as southernwood, wormwood, and other insect repellant herbs like tansy and fennel, when grown near the chicken coops can be used to control external parasites. Other good insecticidal herbs are rosemary, catnip, feverfew, and lavender.
These can also be grown near the places they forage so the chickens can brush past them or nibble on them.

What about clover? All the wildlife seems to like it....is it nutritious?

 

[mlowen]

 not EVEN going to try to catch up 

Stony!!! The Boys are back in town! Good to see you. Hope you've been well. Loan wizard just popped in a bit ago. Now, where is PigeonGuy?

 

[lalaland]

not EVEN going to try to catch up

thats fine, but hey, catch us up on you!
whats happening in your neck of the woods?

 

[Sally8]

No, if that were true chickens would not get worms. That was my argument. They would of by natural selection, over the centuries, developed an natural immunity.


Your environment and climate may not have many worms for your chickens to pick up. They tend to like warm, moist places. I do not give cayenne or pumpkin seeds and my chickens don't have worms. I have my dogs and cats tested yearly here in north Idaho and they have never tested positive for worms. Mice are one of the best vectors of worms so if they were here you would figure the cats would have worms. They never have.
Have fun with your game cam! I think you'll be surprised at what happens around the place when the lights are out! Share your pictures please.

I know that in our area worms are quite a problem. If the animals are outside, they get worms. I take a sample to my vet, he prescribes wormer for all my cats or dogs. Sight unseen. I bought adult hens from a man up the road and they came with worms. I felt that it needed to be addressed. I've never had any problems since. I also use Cayenne pepper now and again but that's it. I don't have them tested nor am I a poop watcher. I am comfortable with the way I'm doing things. I will admit that my thoughts go both ways. We are on a natural chicken keeping thread but such things like Nustock are allowed and it contains Sulfur. Chemical wormers are not. As stated any times in the past, we all do what is best for us. Opinions are not worth arguing over. Off my soap box..

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Here is a picture. It is an early one so she is a bit smaller now. It won't be long before she will be growing way to fast just like her siblings did.



Thank you to all of you for your congratulations.