The Basics Of Natural Chicken Keeping

  The Basics Of Natural Chicken Keeping

March 28, 2021

(Fresh herbs in the nesting boxes!)

For those just starting out on the natural path, or starting out with adult laying hens not baby chicks, here's a quick guide to the basics of natural chicken keeping. It's not hard to 'go natural', not expensive and it's never too late to start on the natural path to happy, healthy chickens! So let me share my quick guide to a more natural path to healthier chickens and healthier eggs for your family to eat!

Garlic:

Purpose: Garlic is a natural immune system booster and antibiotic. It also works as a natural intestinal wormer, repels parasites such as fleas, mites and lice and reduces the smell of manure. 

Application: Add a smashed fresh garlic clove to your chickens' water when you refill it or feed minced fresh garlic free-choice several times a month, alternatively mix some garlic powder into their daily feed (2% ratio).

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Purpose: Helps keep water clean, preventing growth of algae and bacteria. Assists in intestinal health and aids in digestion. Assists in calcium absorption. Promotes respiratory health. Antiseptic properties promote overall health.

Application: One Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar per gallon of water several times a week.

Probiotics:

Purpose: Promotes the growth of good bacteria in the intestines and gut and supports the immune system. Aids in digestion and increases feed conversion ratios. Increases egg production and improves shell quality. Reduces the chance of hens succumbing to e.coli or salmonella.

Application: Add to daily feed or water (2% ratio).

Prebiotics:

Purpose: Prebiotics basically set the stage for probiotics to work. They go hand in hand with probiotics by nourishing the probiotics and providing 'food' for them. Prebiotics trigger the growth of healthy bacteria and increase a body's resistance to pathogens. One of the best sources of prebiotics is sea kelp, but other sources include barley, berries, dandelion greens, flaxseeds, garlic, honey, what bran and yams.

Application: Add to daily feed (2% ratio).

Twice-Yearly Wormer:

Purpose: Offering your flock a twice-yearly natural alternative to commercial wormers can help them repel parasite infestations without ever having to resort to using chemicals.

Application: Add pumpkin seeds, nasturtium and fresh garlic to your chickens' diet for year round health benefits and then in spring and fall.

Food-Grade Diatomaceous Earth:

Purpose: Thought to prevent intestinal parasites when fed internally. Also increases shell weight and thickness, increases egg production and increases hen body weight.  Kills flies, ants and other insects in and around the coop. Kills mites and lice.

Application: Sprinkle around feeders, in nesting boxes and rub onto roosts as needed. Add to daily feed (2% ratio).

Crushed Egg Shells:

Purpose: Adds additional needed calcium to laying hens' diets. An alternative to commercial crushed oyster shell, drying and crushing your own egg shells is more economical and seems to be preferred by our chickens.

Application: Let egg shells dry completely, then crush them with your fingers or a rolling pin to 1/8"-sized pieces. Always offer free-choice in a small container.

Herbs In The Nesting Boxes & Coop:

Purpose: Herbs and flowers offer numerous benefits including repelling rodents and insects in your coop, providing increased respiratory health, increasing fertility, reducing anxiety and more.

Application: Add fresh or dried herbs and edible flowers to your coop and nesting boxes and refresh as needed. For a more complete list of common herbs and their benefits, read HERE.

Dust Baths:

Purpose: Dust baths are how chickens keep their feathers clean and themselves mite-, flea- and lice-free.

Application: Provide an area accessible to your flock where they can bathe. Dry, loose dirt and sand is a good base for the bathing area and adding some wood ash and dried herbs are extremely beneficial.

The wood ash helps to smother parasites while providing Vitamin K (which is a clotting agent) and detoxifying benefits if your chickens nibble a bit as they bathe as they are prone to do and the herbs also assist in repelling parasites. Herbs such as rosemary, lavender, thyme and yarrow are all good choices for dust bath herbs.

Herbal Feed Supplements:

Purpose: A good-quality layer feed should provide your chickens all the nutrition they need, but adding some dried herbs can help boost egg yolk color, provide respiratory system benefits, increase laying/fertility and more.

Application: Add dried herbs to the feed to boost health and production. Fennel, nasturtium and parsley are thought to be laying stimulants; cilantro, sage and tarragon promote overall good health; basil and marigolds lead to more orange egg yolks.

Of course fresh water, good-quality layer feed and a secure, dry coop along with a safe run or pen for daytime are the basic cornerstones of successful chicken keeping. But if you take a few extra steps to boost your flock's immune system and provide them the tools to keep themselves healthy, thereby avoiding having to even try to diagnose illness when one is ailing, you'll find your chicken keeping much more enjoyable and stress-free. Using herbs and edible flowers, along with some natural supplements, you can keep your flock healthy relatively easily and very inexpensively and thereby avoid vet visits, antibiotics and medications. Now you've got the basics for natural chicken keeping!