Natural Health

[pdblake]

I've read that garlic in the water is a good worm preventative, as are dandelions and carrot peel.

Now, working on the basis that mankind has kept chickens for millenia and that all these modern powders, sprays and medicines are reletively new, there must be natural remedies for most other things to. Like something to hang in the henhouse to repel mites and lice etc.

So, what other natural stuff is out there and, as gardeners, should we be growing our own?

[HayleyB]

My girls get thrown loads of weeds including dandelion and dock that I harvest daily from paddocks and drive etc.

They get thrown a few cloves of garlic every few days which they gobble up and fight over so I'm hoping that will help in the battle against worms and red mite. They cannot tolerate too much garlic and most wont touch it however my lot love it but I regulate how much...

Mice well my lot eat them dead but they haven't learned how to catch the darned things yet

[pdblake]

I found this:

http://www.kingbirdfarm.com/Layerhealthcompendium.pdf

Looks interesting.

[Flummery]

Interesting. Lots of these are already in use as preventative measures. I use a little apple cider vinegar and a crushed clove of garlic in the water as a matter of course. Hygiene is also important. Mine are fond of dandelion leaves but turn up their beaks at carrot peelings - neighbour gave them some cauliflower leaves and carrot peelings the other day. However, I would personally draw the line at some of the substances used - tinctures of toxic stuff for instance. I'd rather go with a bit of Flubenvet and know it works.

[bluemoon]

Mine love dandelion leaves (and there are plenty on our new plot) and I use ACV in their water now I've found a supplier - I had bought in the stuff from the supermarket , but fortunately hadn't got around to using it. I'd never use garlic for fear that it would make the eggs taste though.

[Nicos]

That's very interestng..I've bookmarked it- thanks!

[pdblake]

I was glad to read about the garlic, it seems a preventative for allsorts, and I've still got loads left from last year. This year's will be ready soon

[bluemoon]

Has anyone tried Verm-X? It's a natural, herbal wormer and I'd thought about using that for mine. It's RRP is £16.99 for a small bottle, which is for 10 chickens for 6 months, but I've found it on-line for £12, and as that only works out at £2 a month I thought it might be worth trying. There's no egg withdrawal period either as it is non-chemical. You're supposed to give it in water, but as some chooks drink loads more than others you can give each a measured dose on a piece of bread. Just wondered if anyone had used it and if it worked.

[MaureenHall]

Yes, I used Verm-X for the first 6 months, then I changed to Flubenvet cuz it's only given every 6 months and works out cheaper (when you've got 22 chooks!) There's no egg-withdrawal period with that either. I think the difference is that Verm-X is preventative and Flubenvet is curative

[bluemoon]

Thanks, Maureen. I'll probably go with the Flubenvet then.

[Flummery]

I'm going to use Flubenvet. As far as I can gather, if they have a worm infestation, Verm-X won't shift it. Flub also works for gape-worm and Verm-X doesn't.

[HayleyB]

Funny about garlic and so on tainting eggs, there is not an ounce of truth........

My girlies regularly have raw garlic, get the odd fish scraps, and love chilli leftovers and I have never ever tasted anything but lovely creamy egg. And believe it or not I have had so many compliments over my laydees eggs over the last week or so (even a little hand written note on a recycled egg box) I don't reckon I'll change a thing

[Flummery]

I often (about 3 times a week) put a crushed garlic clove in the water along with the ACV. I forgot one day and went into the run with the crushed clove in my mitt. The intrepid Topaz had scoffed half of it before I got through the door (nearly took me finger off!) I chucked the last bit in the water and anticipated a garlic bomb egg. Never got one. I don't notice tastes coming through either. Mind you, I've never yet given them a tin of pilchards!

[Snadger]

I found this:

http://www.kingbirdfarm.com/Layerhealthcompendium.pdf

Looks interesting.

Thanks pd.......I've added this to my favourites to read at a later date.

I imagine our forefathers chooks were reasonably healthy because they ate table scraps and whatever they could forage. They would be eating the same as humans, but to a lesser degree, and would probably have been on the 'lean' side which would have kept them healthier.

Todays spoilt chooks are comparatively obese (similar to the human race) and that could possibly be why they suffer more ailments?

[Suechooks]

I use garlic powder regularly as it is supposed to deter red mite (on the same reasoning as it deters fleas etc on dogs) and like Hayley we never taste anything but egg in our eggs.