The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Kassaundra]

On the comfrey there is a tiny sticker. They said to pick the leaves and let them wilt overnight and then either hang them up or shred for them. Great for them. High in protein and can be used to bump up the protein level. Up to 30% of daily feedings

I can't grow comfrey where my chickens have access they have and will eat it to death, they LOVE it.

 

[Kassaundra]

Oooh I can't help it I find naked necks so unattractive haha! ...are they on leashes?

She's an Ameraucana x Chantecler, should be a great layer once she starts. Actually I should probably find some new egg customers as about 20 of my hens should be starting to lay pretty quickly! I figured maybe it was a defect. Doesn't really matter if it does her no harm. These guys were just hatched to see how they would look and for a chance of khaki eggs.

Out of curiosity ... we free range some of our birds (aka the ones that can fly or are small enough to fit through the few holes left to allow the juvies out) and occasionally let everyone run free. We have large patches of both comfrey and oregano in their favourite areas yet they never touch it. Do any of you free range your birds around herbs and actually see them eat any?

Regular NN do not need to be on leashes, these are asil / shamo type they are very aggressive to other chickens (but not generally to humans) and need to be where they don't have access to others, they absolutely will fight and generally do major damage including death if they weren't kept separate.

 

[lazy gardener]

I can't grow comfrey where my chickens have access they have and will eat it to death, they LOVE it.

That's good to know. I just got 10 crowns and 3 root cuttings Bocking #4. I've planted 4 crowns and potted up the rest. The guy I got them from says I can plant them in the garden to hold them over the winter, then transplant them in the spring. Given the aggressive roots of these plants, would you do that, or just keep them potted and get them planted in permanent location before the ground freezes? I've had a lot of land cleared, and have a lot of ground work to do before I decide permanent locations for a lot of plants. I'm really pleased with the plant material I received. Planted them on Saturday, after holding in the refrigerator for 4 days, and they were putting out leaves by Monday!!!

Do you dry any of yours for winter use???

 

[LindaB220]

That's good to know. I just got 10 crowns and 3 root cuttings Bocking #4. I've planted 4 crowns and potted up the rest. The guy I got them from says I can plant them in the garden to hold them over the winter, then transplant them in the spring. Given the aggressive roots of these plants, would you do that, or just keep them potted and get them planted in permanent location before the ground freezes? I've had a lot of land cleared, and have a lot of ground work to do before I decide permanent locations for a lot of plants. I'm really pleased with the plant material I received. Planted them on Saturday, after holding in the refrigerator for 4 days, and they were putting out leaves by Monday!!!

Do you dry any of yours for winter use???

These things grow like crazy. I bought mine and planted in the garden to keep over the winter. When I dug them up I forgot them and only saved one. So I have a tiny $46 plant. But it will grow and I'll replant in the ground. When I dug up from the garden I didn't have any regrow so I got all the roots.
Comfrey is great dried. Crumble up and put in feed.

 

[Kassaundra]

That's good to know. I just got 10 crowns and 3 root cuttings Bocking #4. I've planted 4 crowns and potted up the rest. The guy I got them from says I can plant them in the garden to hold them over the winter, then transplant them in the spring. Given the aggressive roots of these plants, would you do that, or just keep them potted and get them planted in permanent location before the ground freezes? I've had a lot of land cleared, and have a lot of ground work to do before I decide permanent locations for a lot of plants. I'm really pleased with the plant material I received. Planted them on Saturday, after holding in the refrigerator for 4 days, and they were putting out leaves by Monday!!!

Do you dry any of yours for winter use???

I would go ahead and plant them in the garden, in my thinking you can NEVER have to much comfrey. Chickens and rabbits will eat all you give them, you can use it to make tea for fertilizer, or compost. You can make salves and poultice for medicinal (external) use for yourself. If a couple of roots broke and grew in my garden I would count it as lucky propagation.

 

[Shan30]

I can't grow comfrey where my chickens have access they have and will eat it to death, they LOVE it.

Hmmm well maybe my chickens just aren't that bright... The deer absolutely love it. A week away from hunting season and a huge buck standing on the deck stairs eating comfrey bah!

I might try hanging it in the coop. Never thought of storing it for winter. They would probably eat it then.

 

[BlueMouse]

I planted a bockin #4 division last spring. It still only has like... six leaves? this year. hoping it does MUCH better next year. My hope was to eventually supplement winter feed with dried comfrey because of the huge amount of protien in it. But I've had to put a little fence around it because otherwise the chickens eat it down to a nubbin any time they see it. Especially the turkeys are nuts over it.

 

[Shan30]

Regular NN do not need to be on leashes, these are asil / shamo type they are very aggressive to other chickens (but not generally to humans) and need to be where they don't have access to others, they absolutely will fight and generally do major damage including death if they weren't kept separate.

I thought they looked like half plucked shamo's!

So is there actually a specific breed of naked necks or does the name just apply to any birds carrying the naked neck gene?

While unattractive to me, their pluck-ability is intriguing. Could we make big fat naked neck meat birds?

I also read your thread on caponizing. It's a very interesting idea, wish I could do it but know that hubby wouldn't help and I get very close to passing out just drawing blood samples from the birds. Don't know why, I can butcher just fine but I'm betting I would pass out during that process.

 

[Turk Raphael]

I thought they looked like half plucked shamo's!

So is there actually a specific breed of naked necks or does the name just apply to any birds carrying the naked neck gene?

While unattractive to me, their pluck-ability is intriguing. Could we make big fat naked neck meat birds?

I also read your thread on caponizing. It's a very interesting idea, wish I could do it but know that hubby wouldn't help and I get very close to passing out just drawing blood samples from the birds. Don't know why, I can butcher just fine but I'm betting I would pass out during that process.

NNs are known for the quality of their meat.

PS...I think NEXT weekend, my first course in caponization will be kicked off!!! I'm hoping I cn grasp it and not need any additional instructions. I'm not really interested in poulardes so I'll catch a breather.

 

[lazy gardener]

Thanks for the warning about comfrey and turkeys. I planted 4 of them out by the road, and there's a flock of about 20 who patrol up and down the road. I'll have to put some wire over it to keep it safe.