Posted in Homestead Barnyard
It's hard to believe my girls are a year old now. They were so tiny when I got them, just one day old. I lovingly hand raised these spoiled beauties and it has paid off. I have plenty of eggs for home and enough to sell so I don't have to pay for chicken feed from the household budget. Now is time to order chicks for your homestead.
ACV = This refers to Apple Cider Vinegar, which is used by many of us
to promote health, prevent worms and other parasites. The ACV that we
use is organic and unpastuerized; it has the "mother of vinegar" at the
bottom of the bottle, which looks like sediment. Most of us use a "glug"
or 2 per gallon of water (1 or 2 tablespoons). Many of us also use a
peeled garlic clove in the water, too, also for good health.
( Caution, do not put ACV in metal or Galvanized waterers.)
DE = Diatomaceous Earth. Human grade, only! Do NOT use the "pool grade"
or other grades, which may contain heavy metals and be toxic. This powder
is sometimes added to the dust bath if chickens are kept inside, added to
the feed by some flock owners in order to prevent worms, and others have
had good results by dusting the birds with DE if the flock becomes
infested with lice. However, using ACV and garlic in the water seems to
prevent lice, so using a dust of DE be sure to wear dust masks when
using it!) is for active infestations.
Garlic = Garlic is able to cure a number of ailments, and is generally
hailed as excellent for its beneficial and medicinal properties. Often
used as a vermifuge, it also is used as a general all-purpose preventative.
See above for using it in the chickens' water.
Keeping odor down = Chicken tractors (aka portable, bottomless pens) are
an excellent way to keep chickens in an odor free manner on the farm or in
the backyard. Daily moving of the pen prevents manure build-up, which is
the cause of odor problems, while fertilizing and de-bugging the ground it
sits on for a day. Do a search on google for "chicken tractors" or
"portable chicken pens" to find examples of many different versions that
you can buy or build.
If you are unable to use a portable pen, add carbon (dried leaves, etc) to
the hen house and its run. Straw or hay is also useful in this manner.
The chickens will stir up the mix, and you just keep adding more, making
a very nice compost for yourself in the process.
