The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

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[lalaland]

leahs mom,
it definitely could have been frozen - it has been 28 below zero. I know it wasn't cracked, at least that I could see, but frozen, maybe there was a crack to small to see.
It was very gross, and the yolk was not bright orange but dark colored. yuck.

 

[PeepsCA]

Off topic I know, but couldn't we all use a nice place to park our lawn mower? Think of all the chickens this barn could hold! PeepsCA,, your guineas would love to roost up there!

LOL MB... the heck with the Guineas (they get no pampering!). Me, my horses and my Silkies would be kickin' it in there tho!

 

[Sally8]

aoxa, sorry to hear about carlton. my partner, Sue, had to put down her dog today - its a tough day.

So sorry to hear about the losses. Today, my son and I put down the cat we adopted over 15 years ago. Very sad day at our houses.

Stony, I remember very well the pics you showed of the weasel you got. I've never heard of them being seen around here but saw that we have them from a DEC chart. We are not supposed to have Fishers (did I spell that right) but someone saw one down the road a couple of miles. I don't believe we can ever be too prepared. Sue

 

[stonykill]

So sorry to hear about the losses. Today, my son and I put down the cat we adopted over 15 years ago. Very sad day at our houses.

Stony, I remember very well the pics you showed of the weasel you got. I've never heard of them being seen around here but saw that we have them from a DEC chart. We are not supposed to have Fishers (did I spell that right) but someone saw one down the road a couple of miles. I don't believe we can ever be too prepared. Sue

NYS DEC has an official stance that we don't have mountainlions as well. But we do. Had one in my front yard last year. Friends have pictures of them. DEC just says "that's not a mountainlion"

Be prepared. I never saw a weasel here until this past year. 1st mink I ever saw was 2 years ago.

 

[delisha]

Mumsy & Delisha.....

You both seem to have a lot of knowledge about herbs & their benefits. Do you have a website or list of what we can feed the hens and what the benefits are? I would love to fill my garden this spring with herbs that will benefit my hens.

I know about garlic, cayene pepper and orgeano. I add those to my FF already.

Also one more question for Mumsy..... I bought my hens romaine hearts lettuce as you said yours loved it. Well mine do to. Do you know if this can be grown in my zone? I think its zone 5? western NY. I can get regular lettuce & mixed green lettuce to plant for them but dont think I have seen romaine

Thank you
Jenn

I plant romaine..and yes you can...another good thing to add is Ginger. Grate a little bit in the FF from time to time. If you have a yard with grass or pasture, you can add white clover, red clovers, kale, spinach, oregano, celery, parley, and cilantro I am sure I forgot a few.

 

[stonykill]

leahs mom,
it definitely could have been frozen - it has been 28 below zero. I know it wasn't cracked, at least that I could see, but frozen, maybe there was a crack to small to see.
It was very gross, and the yolk was not bright orange but dark colored. yuck.

do you refrigerate your eggs or just keep them on the counter? If the later it was probably frozen then if left on the counter may have caused the mess. Just a thought. I have eaten many many many frozen eggs and never saw that.

 

[delisha]

Cilantro herb contains no cholesterol; however, it is rich in antioxidants, essential oils, vitamins, and fiber.

• Its leaves and seeds contain many essential volatile oils such as borneol, linalool, cineole, cymene, terpineol, dipentene, phellandrene, pineneandterpinolene.
• The leaves and stem tips are also rich in numerous anti-oxidant polyphenolic flavonoids such asquercetin, kaempferol, rhamnetin and epigenin.
• The herb is a good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is essential for red blood cell production. Manganese is used as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
• It is also rich in many vital vitamins, including folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene, vitamin-C that is essential for optimum health. Vitamin-C is a powerful natural antioxidant..
• It provides 6748 IU ofvitamin-Aper 100 g, Vitamin-A, an important fat soluble vitamin and anti-oxidant, is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin and is essential for vision. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin-A and flavonoids (carotenes) helps protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
• Cilantro is one of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K;provide about 258% of DRI. Vitamin-K has a potential role in bone mass building by promoting osteotrophic activity in the bones.
• Coriander seed oil has been found application in many traditional medicines as analgesic, aphrodisiac, anti-spasmodic, deodorant, digestive, carminative, fungicidal, lipolytic, stimulant and stomachic.

Wonderful! Cilantro leaves provide only 23 calories/100 g, but their phyto-nutrients profile is no less than any high-calorie food item; be it nuts, pulses or cereals or meat group.

This humble backyard herb provides (% of RDA/100g):
15% of folates,
11% of vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine),
45% of vitamin C,
225% of vitamin A,
258% of vitamin K,
22% of iron and
18% of manganese.

 

[armorfirelady]

You can get romaine lettuce seed (heritage so it is not sterile and will reseed...I'll have to dig out a link for you where to buy etc.) It should grow in your zone, it's a hardy cool weather lettuce. Along with kale, cabbage & brocholi. My chickens LOVE all of the above and the problem is keeping them out of it until it's grown and established. I was supposed to have a great fall winter garden, but the little snots discovered all my young plants and ....well...I guess you would say we got the vegies back in the eggs. I had put a frost blanket over the box that the plants were in to keep them from devistating them too much, but they discovered how to get under the frost blanket one day while free ranging unattended. Romaine will also grow through the summer, but you might need to move it into the shade depending on how hot it gets where you are. I still have a few romaine starts that they missed. You can start it inside, but I would rather direct sow. The seeds are so tiny. I usually let one plant bolt and collect the seed in a brown paper sack and then reseed from that. We did get one salad before "THEY" got into it EDIT: I found the link..http://www.mypatriotsupply.com/.. nice thing is all their seeds are heirloom and will reseed, so they are self sustaining...lots of interesting seed types

Thank you for the link, I cant wait to go seed shopping. Thankfully the veggie garden is off limits to the hens with metal dencing so all is safe (I hope) they didnt get in there last year though of course they were a lot smaller and didnt fly as much.....

I have never tried giving the hens cabbage....have to give it a try. They didnt like broccoli or cauliflower tho....I think its because it wasnt cooked?

I have tried starting seeds in the house but the cats tend to either lay on top of the containers or knock of the lids and eat the seedlings

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote:
Thank you Delisha .....

Ginger? huh never would of thought of that...

I have an acre lot and a rototiller....I can def make an area for some clover. (less grass to mow lol)

I planted celery 2 years ago and its reseeded itself ever since. Going to add the others you mentioned to my veggie list