The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[heartsizedfarm]

I have found that things put in the food processor and then mixed with either tuna fish or scrambled eggs never last the morning in my chicken coop.
Garlic pumpkin seeds mint all gone! no complaints its kind of like the people that make veggies into sauce to cook with so their children will eat them.

Good plan! I'll make tuna fish cayenne stew today.

 

[hellbender]

yeah, up here we have a wild oniony garlic type plant that is called both "ramps" and "wild leeks" and "wild garlic". I don't have any on my land, though, it is a bit too piney and in my experience they like a deep rich loamy soil which is not what I have...

That's exactly the type of soil it needs, in semi open areas in hard wood forests.

 

[Leahs Mom]

At work this morning and can't catch up and answer stuff directed to me. Probably later this afternoon!

But I did want to post this quote from a short article on issues with soft shell eggs and other calcium-related problems as an FYI.

It is regarding spinach and a few other items that can interfere with calcium absorption. This

, as well as beet greens, chards and citrus fruits, which can interfere with calcium absorption. If soft-shelled eggs are a problem, try cutting those treats out completely. If you do feed them in the future, add some apple cider vinegar to their water (1 Tablespoon of ACV per gallon of water) which helps increase calcium absorption rates.

I will say that if they eat any of those things free-choice, I wouldn't worry about them. But I wouldn't force feed (meaning giving them with no other choice of food)... just like is my policy with all feed-stuffs. I let them choose freely rather than restrict.

 

[armorfirelady]

At work this morning and can't catch up and answer stuff directed to me. Probably later this afternoon!

But I did want to post this quote from a short article on issues with soft shell eggs and other calcium-related problems as an FYI.

It is regarding spinach and a few other items that can interfere with calcium absorption. This


Quote: http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/201...paign=Feed:+FreshEggsDaily+(Fresh+Eggs+Daily)

I will say that if they eat any of those things free-choice, I wouldn't worry about them. But I wouldn't force feed (meaning giving them with no other choice of food)... just like is my policy with all feed-stuffs. I let them choose freely rather than restrict.

If spinach is not good then how did Popeye get so strong?

Ok on serious note I did not know that. Spinach is one of my favorite veggies. And my girls also enjoy eating spinach & beet greens. As for citrus I have given it to them but they will not eat them.

I have never had a problem with soft shells (well other than the fart egg the other day but I think it was just a fluke) Perhaps because I leave oyster shell out for them to eat as needed & that I ferment the food that they have had no problems with soft shells?

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

Help! Just realized halfway through a bag of feed that it is medicated! Is it OK to eat the eggs? Is it going to screw up my chicks immune systems? My whole flock has been eating it....

 

[Phoenixxx]

Help! Just realized halfway through a bag of feed that it is medicated! Is it OK to eat the eggs? Is it going to screw up my chicks immune systems? My whole flock has been eating it....

Since the antibiotics are also killing the good bacteria, start with probiotics right away, like plain yogurt or fermented feed. Not doing so will allow yeasts to proliferate whereby they may then have immune troubles. I don't know whether the antibiotics are passing into the eggs or not, so I guess if you're okay with getting trace amounts of medication you can eat them.

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

I've been using it in the fermented feed, if that makes a difference

 

[hellbender]

Help! Just realized halfway through a bag of feed that it is medicated! Is it OK to eat the eggs? Is it going to screw up my chicks immune systems? My whole flock has been eating it....

Feed it to 'em. Eat the eggs. If your children start growing pin feathers, start them on stewed carrots with chopped BOSS.

All kidding aside, It's a little bit of feed so feed it and eat the blasted eggs. This silliness would be funny if so many folks didn't take it so seriously.

You and other 500 or so members should be here during one of my feedings....You would all be eating medicated feed!

So many folks don't realize that chickens are something like 1/24 cousin to T-REX and about half that far from snakes and a whole bunch of other reptilians. JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA

RON

 

[lisaleedy]

Has anyone used cianne or garlic to feed for wormmers?? I used it for dogs and horses helps repells flys as well. Will it work on chickens?

 

[Mrs Hutcherson]

OK thanks haha! Just wanted to make sure, heard a bunch of horror stories you know. Makes sense now why they weren't really eating it like they do the other stuff. I know They eat some funky stuff out free ranging, one of my girls loves finding snakes to eat, lil dinosaurs! Thanks!