The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[armorfirelady]

LM good reminder. Mine have poop streaks in their back feathers & need to be trimmed. In fact my mom keeps asking me when we are going to do it lol. Guess I need to find an evening and get it done

Sophie update, she has been free since Easter & doing well. I saw her do the neck stretch once since then. But she is back laying and I give them spinach daily. I still don't think her crop empties as much as the other hens but she is acting fine. I will just keep an eye on her. I do not feel that mass of stringy stuff I'm her crop so maybe it is just slow digesting. They have grit available. I also picked up a small wire dog crate on Craig's list if she needs time out again. It's smaller then the crate I was using and easily fits in the coop. I figure that way she is gap happier since she can see the others while she is confined.

Nasty winds here today. Girls have been in the coop most of the day. Their choice. They came out for dinner and for some lettuce and that's it. It is pretty amusing to watch them flap their wings as they tried to make their way to me in the wind. At,least it didn't blow them over lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

I notice that Susan Burek has a sour crop remedy. I'm thinking of getting some to keep in my first aid kit. I had asked her about shelf life on the products and she said it was long (probably more than 2 yrs) if you keep it in a cool dark place.

Quote: http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/poultryherbcart2014.html
I had purchased a couple of the tonics at the end of winter to get some of the green roots back into their system. Only used the green root tonic one time but I think I will put it in their water from time to time next winter if it's as long as this one.

I also purchased a lb. of dried organic nettles. My health food store will sell at discount by the lb and I like organic since it is not irradiated like the regular on-shelf bottle of herbs and spices in the store are. Anyhow, the discount for bulk is much better price than buying the little jars on the shelf. I tried offering the nettles free-choice and they do like them and took them. This was right near the end of the winter when there wasn't anything green to be seen for so long. I had heard that nettles are something that they will eat fresh and they have a good amount of nutrition including calcium - although I'm not sure how bioavailable it it.

I think I'm going to purchase some other dried herbs next winter and see if they'll take any free-choice. One I'd like to try is cayenne pepper flakes. I don't mix into feed as I don't like to force feed (unless an emergency medicine is needed) but if they take it free-choice I assume it's something they want and is usable to them as long as there is plenty of other food available to choose from.

 

[armorfirelady]

I planted nettle this year for the first time along with other herbs. I plan on drying most of them. Is there a reason you don't grow your own herbs? Just curious is all

 

[Leahs Mom]

I just didn't have any nettles growing last year. I did have oregano, basil, thyme, lemon balm, bee balm... and probably something else that I don't remember. OH... lavendar. But I don't think it was medicinal quality. I think it was just ornamental quality.

 

[lazy gardener]

I'd love to have a list from you all of the herbs/plants that you dry to put in the nest/coop/run to repel mites. I'm thinking Tansy, Lemon balm, dried orange peel. Please share your lists, and tell me if there are any plants that shouldn't be included. Thanks.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I had a big patch of tansy in Manitoba! Pretty and useful and made me feel like a child again with those little yellow button flowers. Thanks for reminding me. I'll plant it here in my new home.

Useful herbs for chickens. Cayenne and hot peppers for worming. Marigolds, Borage, Lavender, for pesticide. Parsley, Fennel, Cilantro, Nettles, Chives for cleansing.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I have some of the nextbox herbs that I got from Treats for Chickens some time ago. I have to say that stuff smells heavenly. I hadn't had time to grow anything of my own at the time I purchased it and I still will get some every now and then when it's on sale. I had written a little article about it some time ago.

Anyhow, this is a run-down of what is in it...most of these are easy to grow in most of the country:

, it contains a form of calcium that is easily assimilated.

Bay Leaves: The leaves are insect deterrents that are used to drive away fleas, lice, moths, and bugs in flour and cereals. It also has anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties.

Eucalyptus Leaves: Among its many other properties eucalyptus is a powerful insect repellent for man or animals. Dried, finely powdered leaves are used as an insecticide.

Oregano: Used in the nest box as an anti-parasitic; also has anti-fungal properties.

Peppermint: Insecticide and anti-parasitic.

Tansy: Leaves are insecticidal and it is also used to expel worms. Caution: tansy should only be used in very small quantities. Do not use this herb in a "do-it-yourself" blend unless you have experience!

Wormwood: Repels moths and other insects. Wormwood is another herb that should only be dosed and used with caution and experience.

Marigold Petals: Insect repellant. Marigold petals have many other uses including treating yeast infections, a pain reliever for insect bites, and part of a soothing skin ointment. Contains phosphorus.

Spearmint: Antiseptic. Eases stress and fatigue; also helps with sinusitis, asthma, bronchitis, nervous conditions, and the oil is used to relieve itching.

Catnip: The Herbalist Almanac mentions that catnip was grown around buildings of farms as it was believed that the odor drove off rats. It is insecticidal and is also used to expel worms. Catnip contains Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B9, and B12 and C.

 

[lalaland]

I'm excited because mollys herbal wormer and immune builder came today in the mail.
the wormer is wormwood, garlic, fennel, black walnut, and stevia. I think the stevia part is to make it taste good for the goats, alpacas and horses - she makes this product for goats, etc. but uses it on her chickens.

she says you should use a weekly worm tonic after dosing with the wormer. the tonic is supposed to build up the immune system, and is a blend of garlic, cucurbita pepo (think that is pumpkin seed) mugwort, fennel, hyssop, thyme and stevia.

lots of these are listed in your herbal list, Leah's mom!

 

[lalaland]

Tonights saga of the sulmtalers!


got home, checked on them. one on the roost. broody in the nest. the third? missing. I check the run again, check the coop again, look to see if she is in with the broody, start to panic, and then find her wedged behind the nest box - I could hardly get my hands down between the box and the wall to fish her out. Danged girl went broody too - when I picked her up she had an egg tucked under her wing.

dang. I thought I had the divider wall fixed. I don't know what to do with another broody! meantime, I'm about to build an ark. 4 inches of rain yesterday, and it is still coming.

 

[joyfulkeeper]

I used to bring my first broody grapes and watermelon cubes because I thought she might not be getting enough water during the day. She loved them and made the neatest little growling noises while eating them!

I have no broodies but frozen grapes & watermelon are what I give the hens when its hot out. Its 2 of their favorite treats & being frozen I figure helps cool them down

It certainly hasn't been hot here, but I have been worried that my broody isn't getting enough water. I love the idea of giving her grapes and melon. Maybe I'll get a cute little growl/purr from her.

Thanks