The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Amberjem]

If they are big pumpkins I just leave them in the chicken run. The freeze/thaw throughout the winter softens them up & the girls enjoy them. Just beware you tend to have random pumpkins growing everywhere in the spring But I found that those were the hardiest plants to grow.

I also saved the seeds from the smaller ones I cut up. I use some for the hens as a natural dewormer and others to plant in the spring

I would just consider it a bonus to start growing up the free range area is on a slope so it's welcome to provide ground cover thats eduible for the chicks.. I have had a pumkin sitting in the chickencoop pen for two days now they havent touched it yet..I thought I would cutt it open today so they can get a lil more encouragement to eat it.. I didnt know the pumpkin seeds were dewormers.......... bonus... I'm still reeling over DE not being a wormer.........and hadnt figured out what I will beable to use yet seems like I always have some sort of chicken thing to research up.....the girls discovered the joys of baked taters last night... I thought I would give them some tasty oatmeal with apples and raisins today with there pumkin as a thanksgiving treat

 

[RedRidge]

I wonder if they will lay brown eggs?

I bet they'll be speckled eggs. ;-)

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving! I know I personally have way too many things to be thankful for to list - I'm truly blessed and wish that feeling on each of you.

 

[LindaB220]

Quote:
Originally Posted by hellbender

Thanks to ALL for the welcome back, however temporary!

I have been absent this summer as it was quite dramatic and personally overwelming here. I want you to know I enjoyed our exchanges in the past and think you are an asset to this community. Keep in mind that for all the haters in this world there are also people who value and respect each of us. I hope you will continue to share your knowledge and friendship with those of us who do value it.

x2 Ron

 

[hellbender]

Thank you very much! I appreciate all my friends and detractors alike. Everyone's opinion can enlighten someone.

I came back to try to repair the damage done to the PRODUCTION thread by my younger son but alas, I think it might likely be too late.

I will still check in once in a while to see what's going on.

 

[armorfirelady]

I would just consider it a bonus to start growing up the free range area is on a slope so it's welcome to provide ground cover thats eduible for the chicks.. I have had a pumkin sitting in the chickencoop pen for two days now they havent touched it yet..I thought I would cutt it open today so they can get a lil more encouragement to eat it.. I didnt know the pumpkin seeds were dewormers.......... bonus... I'm still reeling over DE not being a wormer.........and hadnt figured out what I will beable to use yet seems like I always have some sort of chicken thing to research up.....the girls discovered the joys of baked taters last night... I thought I would give them some tasty oatmeal with apples and raisins today with there pumkin as a thanksgiving treat

Yes my pullets loved to lay under the leaves of the pumpkins. They also found green pumpkin skins tasty

I'm hoping to get some to grow over the hoop coop this year to keep it naturally cooler. I also saved a ton of seed heads from my giant (over 4 ft tall) marigolds to plant around it. The mint I transplanted should come back also. In fact some is still growing in the coop where it spread lol And I saved some nasturtium seeds that grow as a vine to grow up the coop as well.

Mine wont eat the pumpkin unless I cut it open. I also use squash seeds and cayenne pepper flakes as a natural dewormers. I normally just mix them in some yogurt with some basil or other herbs I have on hand. You could just mix it all in a pumpkin half as well. I know Delisha does it that way but with different ingredients.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: Contact me in the fall. That should give plenty of time to get some fertile eggs.

I would just consider it a bonus to start growing up the free range area is on a slope so it's welcome to provide ground cover thats eduible for the chicks.. I have had a pumkin sitting in the chickencoop pen for two days now they havent touched it yet..I thought I would cutt it open today so they can get a lil more encouragement to eat it.. I didnt know the pumpkin seeds were dewormers.......... bonus... I'm still reeling over DE not being a wormer.........and hadnt figured out what I will beable to use yet seems like I always have some sort of chicken thing to research up.....the girls discovered the joys of baked taters last night... I thought I would give them some tasty oatmeal with apples and raisins today with there pumkin as a thanksgiving treat

I haven't wormed my birds yet as I've not seen a need. But if I do, I decided I'd either try Molly's Herbals or the other one by Moonlight Mile.

http://www.fiascofarm.com/herbs/mollysherbals.php/categories/herbal-wormer

http://www.moonlightmileherbs.com/herbaltonics.html

Disclaimer is that I've never used either so I can't give any testimonial. @lalaland has used Molly's and may have a comment.


My mode of operation has been to not worm routinely as I believe it weakens the system and can increase worm load in the future causing a kind-of downhill situation. Things like pumpkin seed, cayenne, etc. like @armorfirelady mentions are items I would not hesitate to use as I see them more working with the system rather than on the system. Same with most herbs if they are used as they were meant to be used.

My suspicion is that when there's a real overload of worms that is causing problems, it's usually because there is a basic fundamental problem elsewhere that is weakening them which starts to cause a domino effect leading to illness and malaise. So..... I try to practice good husbandry for prevention of overload as best as I can.

If I knew there was an overload I'd definitely treat (hopefully the herbal formulas would work) and then I'd try to evaluate what might have put the birds in a compromised position and try to fix that if possible.

 

[LindaB220]

Thank you very much! I appreciate all my friends and detractors alike. Everyone's opinion can enlighten someone.

I came back to try to repair the damage done to the PRODUCTION thread by my younger son but alas, I think it might likely be too late.

I will still check in once in a while to see what's going on.

Say the word and I'm there. It's one of my favorites. Especially now that I'm really getting into it. Raphael did an outstanding job, by the way.

 

[Amberjem]

I was wondering about fennel is it safe for chickens? I know fennel is also a natural wormer and in the garden it isnt very friendly to most plants so somewhere in the free range area would be good place for it and if the chicks munch it and arent harmed the natural working benifits of it might help the chickies? anyone know?

 

[mlowen]

I was wondering about fennel is it safe for chickens? I know fennel is also a natural wormer and in the garden it isnt very friendly to most plants so somewhere in the free range area would be good place for it and if the chicks munch it and arent harmed the natural working benifits of it might help the chickies? anyone know?

I don't know about it growing in their range area, but I've given mine fennel fronds several times and they seem to like them with no ill effects.

 

[armorfirelady]

Hope everyone had a great thanksgiving. I think my hens are going to be in a turkey coma later. My stepmom gave me her carcass which had a lot of meat left on it. I put half of it in the freezer. Girls were happily cleaning the bones. I even got the peepers to eat off a drumstick I was holding. They rarely get that close to me but apparently decided the turkey was worth it. My mom & friend are saving me their carcasses also. So nice I can toss them in the freezer to pull out whenever they need some meat protein Girls are going to be well fed this winter btw turkey carcasses and venison.

Oh and if anyone needs some snow let me know, we got another 6 inches overnight. I have a feeling it's going to be a snowy winter