The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[PlaidBattleAxe]

I've got an excess of basil right now; can I scatter it in the coop for happy smells? I didn't see it on the chicken death list.

I think you can. I haven't heard of basil being bad for them, either. That's what I do with my excess peppermint and lemon balm. Helps with those flies (for SOME reason, my chickens wont chase/eat flies. At all.)

 

[islandgirl82]

name="hoosiercheetah" url="/t/729605/the-natural-chicken-keeping-thread-ots-welcome/32980#post_13945772"]I've got an excess of basil right now; can I scatter it in the coop for happy smells? I didn't see it on the chicken death list.[/quote]

http://www.grit.com/animals/nesting-box-herbs-chicken-aromatherapy.aspx#axzz36X0DWQWg

 

[hoosiercheetah]

http://www.grit.com/animals/nesting-box-herbs-chicken-aromatherapy.aspx#axzz36X0DWQWg

Thanks for the link!

 

[Bill Matthews]

I've got an excess of basil right now; can I scatter it in the coop for happy smells? I didn't see it on the chicken death list.

Be very cautious about putting anything not tried and true out for chickens to either eat or scratch......Sometimes one person uses something and has no problem...Another tries the same, and poof....Each environment is different and exposure can often be cumulative with unexpected results......General Rule: If there is no real reason to do something, don't do it.....Chickens are really nasty creatures.....Stink up the joint badly, and all that....They probably love the smells we hate...Look at what they eat!....Then, again, who knows for sure?

 

[hoosiercheetah]

Be very cautious about putting anything not tried and true out for chickens to either eat or scratch......Sometimes one person uses something and has no problem...Another tries the same, and poof..

Point. I'll do a little bit in the coop and run at first, and see what happens.

 

[armorfirelady]

I everyone!  I'm fairly new to this thread but I'm always looking for natural ways to do things and I was just looking for some advise on how to treat mites/ lice naturally? Thanks

Wood ash, I mix it in with some peat moss. I also put it in the nesting box. tried and proven

I've got an excess of basil right now; can I scatter it in the coop for happy smells? I didn't see it on the chicken death list.

I think you can. I haven't heard of basil being bad for them, either.  That's what I do with my excess peppermint and lemon balm. Helps with those flies (for SOME reason, my chickens wont chase/eat flies. At all.)

I,give my girls basil, nasturtium, mint, sage.......just about any herb I grow they get to eat or use in coops nesting box

 

[armorfirelady]

So I let Lucy out of broody jail today and she happily stayed out with the flock. Hopefully she is done being broody.,I left the crate in the coop as a reminder

Thought I would share a picture of my girls after they spent the afternoon in the rain. They rarely go in. Unless,the t storm is close by.

Sophie is having a bad feather day

 

[Leahs Mom]

I've got an excess of basil right now; can I scatter it in the coop for happy smells? I didn't see it on the chicken death list.

I put basil and the flower heads in the nest boxes with other herbs. It is okay for chickens. Some folks put it in the feed and it reportedly adds to more orange egg yolks. These articles have a nice little rundown on various herbs and their uses:

http://www.fresh-eggs-daily.com/2013/05/adding-dried-herbs-to-your-chicken.html
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/02/natural-lice-and-mite-prevention-using.html
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/05/herbs-and-their-uses-for-your-chickens.html

And this is a really nice medicinal herb reference:
http://medicinalherbinfo.org/herbs/Herb-index.html

 

[subhanalah]

@Leahs Mom I made a homemade cream from plantain that I've used for mosquito bites and a bee sting. It def soothes the itching. You have to reapply often (my sting was on my finger so after washing my hands throughout the day I had to reapply it) but it def worked. I think I've posted the link on here a couple times.

I like you had no reaction to PI this year. Also a few weeks ago I was eaten alive by Mosquitos which normally means a dose of Benadryl for several days. I also got stung by a wasp. I'm allergic to them. Again a little pain and swelling but nothing like my normal response. I've been trying to figure out what has lessened my reactions to them. The only thing that's changed is less processed food and I've been using coconut oil daily on cuts I have on me to help heal them. (I always have bump and bruises from yard work & such). I also use it at least once a week in my hair. I wonder if the daily application has improved my immune system and lessened my reactions to stings and bites?

I certainly won't go anywhere without my Epi pen and Benadryl but it still makes me curious about coconut oil.

@lalaland I have no idea what would cause that response. Sophie didn't react that way when she had the crop issue. I wonder if it's an absorbtion problem or something in her make up that's causing the problem. Fingers crossed she feels better

Camphor works like a charm for bug bites and irritation from contact poisons, such as poison ivy.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Camphor works like a charm for bug bites and irritation from contact poisons, such as poison ivy.

My grandma used to put camphor on our mosquito bites. Used to be able to purchase a product called Campho-Phenique (and I have no idea on the spelling). Not sure if it is still available or not.

But..
VetRX has camphor as one of it's ingredients. I have used Vet Rx on myself for other things in the past