The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[beginnergirl]

Thank you!

 

[shortgrass]

Thanks everyone for your lists. My pullets seem very healthy but want to be prepared. They are so soft and shiny. Didn't know chickens would be so lovely to touch.

Shortgrass, how are the fresh herbs used? Are they for mites?

Taking a chicken first aide class next week so am excited to learn more!

The rosemary is definitely for the roosts and nesting boxes, especially in summer when we get these horrible gnats, Buffalo gnats or blood sucking tiny flies lol, they hate rosemary I rather prefer rosemary OIL for that, but I like sprigs of fresh too, just smells nice to me, and no buggies

The Dill, nettles, and wormwood are growing in my yard, so they have access to them for worming themselves

It's mostly the wormwood doing that, but dill and nettles also have other properties like antibacterial or as with the nettles, they're not only anthelmintuc (worm killing), but they are chock full of almost every vitamin and mineral a plant can have; they're super food for super chickens lol

 

[lalaland]

I have nu-stock, blue kote, and vetRX poultry meds... And I keep herbs like rosemary, dill, nettles, and wormwood handy, especially in summer when they're fresh...

I've never used garlic powder, I always just fed fresh cloves, but I'm willing to try the powder

Oh and I like to keep an electrolyte/probiotics powder handy in case I have a sick chick, but I started fermenting their feed, so I'm almost willing to toss it... But not yet

From my reading, the dry garlic powder has lost most if not all of its beneficial qualities. the sulphur compound evaporates shortly after garlic is freshly squeezed or minced...although it seems reasonable that it would be retained if the clove was placed in oil. So the powder doesn't have the sulphur comppound, if I understand it correctly.

 

[shortgrass]

From my reading, the dry garlic powder has lost most if not all of its beneficial qualities. the sulphur compound evaporates shortly after garlic is freshly squeezed or minced...although it seems reasonable that it would be retained if the clove was placed in oil.  So the powder doesn't have the sulphur comppound, if I understand it correctly.

Hmmm, I'll have to read up on that; that's usually the case though lol, we try to extract something from an herb unto a pill and end up with dead dust and not much more There's that Keep It Simple, Stupid acronym all the time to remind me that sometimes the best thing is the natural, pure, God made substance in its entiret, not like I could improve it anyway; I mess things up doing that


How's your hen doing, BTW? Is she feeling better and the wound healing ok?

 

[lalaland]

Goldie is doing ok. She is still in the kennel in the bathroom. Has started to walk a little instead of shuffling unsteadily .

I don't see any signs of infection, but she isn't really eating much. Her droppings are small as a result, but look ok. I think she is bored, but I would like her to be a little more mobile before bringing her back to the coop. If she really eats something, the next day she has no interest. I'm running out of things to tempt her with!

I'm going to keep her in the house for at least a few more days. I think she is on the road to recovery, but it is a long one. Her injuries were pretty severe.

thanks for asking!

 

[beginnergirl]

The rosemary is definitely for the roosts and nesting boxes, especially in summer when we get these horrible gnats, Buffalo gnats or blood sucking tiny flies lol, they hate rosemary I rather prefer rosemary OIL for that, but I like sprigs of fresh too, just smells nice to me, and no buggies

The Dill, nettles, and wormwood are growing in my yard, so they have access to them for worming themselves

It's mostly the wormwood doing that, but dill and nettles also have other properties like antibacterial or as with the nettles, they're not only anthelmintuc (worm killing), but they are chock full of almost every vitamin and mineral a plant can have; they're super food for super chickens lol

We didn't have flies or gnat problems this summer. I love the nettle plant- both the foliage and flowers. They are great for us to eat too. I never remember to wild harvest them early when they are safe to eat, so if they were in the yard hopefully I would. They are in my herbal formula for allergies. Will look into buying or planting wormwood. Have no idea what it looks like... Thanks again.

 

[islafarm]

Wormwood is an artemisia, same genus as mugwort and tarragon. Wormwood has a pretty foliage and looks good in a garden. All 3 share similar properties: nervine, anti parasitic and from what I've read, good for poultry. Would be fun to have all 3 in the garden

 

[beginnergirl]

Wormwood is an artemisia, same genus as mugwort and tarragon. Wormwood has a pretty foliage and looks good in a garden. All 3 share similar properties: nervine, anti parasitic and from what I've read, good for poultry. Would be fun to have all 3 in the garden

Artemisia! I took it when I went to Tanzania to prevent malaria. Was sort of controversial back then but has become accepted now. It both prevents and treats malaria. Looked it up- very nice foliage! Another plant for my list! Will have to do more research. I don't see any worms in my chicken's poo so would probably not worm premptively. But am beginning my adventure with chickens, so not sure... Thnx

 

[hellbender]

Artemisia! I took it when I went to Tanzania to prevent malaria. Was sort of controversial back then but has become accepted now. It both prevents and treats malaria. Looked it up- very nice foliage! Another plant for my list! Will have to do more research. I don't see any worms in my chicken's poo so would probably not worm premptively. But am beginning my adventure with chickens, so not sure... Thnx

Most poultry worms can NOT be seen by the naked eye.

 

[islafarm]

If the girls have free access to the wormwood they'll graze it as they need it. Yes, it is s pretty foliage