Simple Natural Chicken Keeping on the Homestead

Homestead chicken keepers should strive to raise their flock as naturally as possible. Since homesteading is about sustainability, living off the land, and using what resources are available, it only makes sense that our chicken keeping routine should be the same! Simple natural chicken keeping on the homestead should be kept just that, simple. Yes, there is a lot of information you should know, but some of that information should be common sense. However, there are some aspects of natural chicken keeping that may seem confusing or have a ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ way of being done. I would like to break down some of the more complicated aspects of raising chickens naturally into simple actions you can do on a regular basis on the homestead!

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What is Covered…

The word ‘natural’ is such a broad term and when applied to something as varied as chicken keeping, it can get even more confusing as to what is considered natural.

Natural chicken keeping encompasses way more than just herbs, supplements, natural coop care, and holistic remedies, however, these seem to be the most confusing or daunting parts of natural chicken keeping. How do you use herbs properly? How much of a supplement should you give? Should I use DE around my coop? What holistic remedy should be used for this ailment?

So, in this post I would like to break each of those more ‘daunting’ aspects of raising chickens naturally into simpler terms.

Herbs

The realm of herbs is complex, fascinating, and mostly un-explored for the homestead chicken keeper. However, herbs can be simplified enough for you to use on a regular basis around the homestead.

In my post How to use Herbs for Backyard Chickens, I go in-depth with considering the energetics, constitutions, and proper usage of herbs for chickens. While all of that information is good head knowledge, you need to know how to put it into practice in order for it to be practical.

By remembering a few basic facts about using herbs you can feel more confident when you want to give your flock herbs. Knowing the benefits of an herb as well as how it works will help you use herbs better for your flock. Get a basic understanding of the herbs you use most. Knowledge such as what benefits a herb has for your chickens, if that herb is strong (potent, flavorful) or mild, and what you could use that herb for are all basics that you should find out. To keep the herbal side of natural chicken keeping simple, remember these few tips:

Simplifying Herbs

• focus on learning about a few herbs that you know you will use with your chickens a lot
• before you give your flock a certain herb, figure out if it is potent (strong flavor: e.g. oregano) or mild (mild flavor: e.g. parsley), you can do this by tasting or smelling the herb
• offer potent herbs in moderation and preferably free-choice
• offer mild herbs more frequently, they can be mixed into feed too
• dried herbs can be mixed into dry chicken mash feed
• fresh or dried herbs can be added to fermented feed
• when in doubt, feed free-choice, let the chickens decide how much they want of an herb!
• placing herbs around the coop allows your flock to nibble on them when they choose

Herb Basics:

• good homestead herbs to grow: parsley, sage, spearmint, lavender, thyme, rosemary, nasturtium, oregano, cilantro, basil
• foraged herbs: dandelion, clover, yarrow
• potent herbs (use in moderation): oregano
• mild herbs (can use on a weekly basis): parsley, cilantro, nasturtium, rosemary, thyme
• good feed supplement herbs: parsley, thyme, sage, nasturtium cilantro
• good water supplement herbs: oregano, basil, parsley, rosemary
• coop herbs: lavender, spearmint, oregano

Feed Supplements

Many times feed supplements and treats get muddled together in the homestead flock’s diet. In my post Homemade Chicken Feed Supplements: how to use them, I go over the differences between feed supplements and treats. In reality though, many of the items we consider supplements are actually given to our flock in such a way as to classify them as treats.

For the purpose of making chicken feed supplements simple on the homestead, I want you to consider every additional food you give your flock as a feed supplement. In truth, the treats you give your chickens are indeed just supplementing their daily diet of chicken feed. These feed supplements can range from additional seeds and grains, to table scraps and garden scraps, to herbs and other supplements like kelp and brewer’s yeast.

Like most things in the natural chicken world, there are not many do’s, dont’s, or amounts for using feed supplements. Let common sense be your guide. Again, knowledge of the supplement/treat and how it works is helpful so you know the best way to use it for your flock. Moderation is also a key factor. You may give your flock mealworms because of their protein content, but also be aware that mealworms are high in fat, which can cause health problems if given in excess. With moderation in mind, here are a few tips to simplify the process of supplementing your flock’s diet:

Simplifying Feed Supplements

• feed supplements are most beneficial when they are supplementing a mash or whole grain chicken feed
• most feed supplements are simply used to promote overall good health, prevent ailments, and fill in any nutritional gaps in the flock’s daily diet
• don’t offer the same supplement for several consecutive days unless you are using it as a holistic remedy, for a specific purpose, and in a specific amount
• remember moderation; if your flock gets lots of table scraps one day, they should get limited scraps the next day
• consider your flock’s size when deciding how much supplemental food they should get in one day
• feed supplements that don’t specifically say on their packaging to mix into the feed should be fed free-choice

Feed Supplement Basics:

• weekly feed supplements: herbs, garlic, sprouts, bugs (fresh or dried)
• fermented feed supplements: herbs, select seeds & grains
• high protein feed supplements: seeds, oats, quinoa, millet, field peas, meat scraps, dried bugs
• high energy feed supplements: wheat, corn, barley
• as needed feed supplements*: kelp, brewer’s yeast
• table scraps & garden scraps: can offer on a daily basis as long as they are varied
• seeds & grains: consider their protein and energy content and what benefits they add in addition to the seeds and grains already present in your flock’s feed
• supplements to limit: grain & seed based table scraps, extra seeds & grains

*these can be used to promote overall good health and can be mixed into the feed, use an off and on supplement cycle with them

Water Supplements

I feel that water supplements are often an overlooked aspect of natural chicken keeping. Feed supplements often take the spot light, and it’s often just as easy to give your flock a little supplement here and there or mix it into their feed. However, water supplements are a great way to actually monitor how much of a supplement your flock gets. While feed supplements are great for promoting overall health or supplementing the flock’s daily diet, water supplements are better for addressing certain issues within your flock.

That’s not to say they can’t be used to promote overall health on a daily basis too! By giving your flock supplements in their water, you are ensuring that they are receiving the supplement and not just avoiding it because there are better things to eat, which they can do with feed supplements. That being said, water supplements take a little bit of adjusting since your flock needs to get used to having a supplement in their water.

As for amounts, there are guidelines for some water supplements and others come with instructions that tell you how to use them. If you buy a supplement that has been specifically formulated to go in water for chickens, follow the instructions that come with the supplement. Use common sense when determining if a supplement can be added to your flock’s water. Moderation is key for water supplements too. It’s actually more beneficial for your flock to take a break from a water supplement for a few days and then be re-introduced to it again. This off and on cycle makes the supplement more effective. Here are some simple ways you can use water supplements:

Simplifying Water Supplements

• with any water supplement, start in small quantities and then gradually increase the dosage to allow your flock to get used to the supplement
• if you are unsure if your flock will drink the supplemented water, provide clean, fresh drinking water at the same time
• never offer the same water supplement for longer than 7-10 days consecutively
• to promote overall good health, you can simply use a water supplement once a day one time each week

Water Supplement Basics:

• garlic (crushed): 4 cloves per gallon of water, can be used year-round
• apple cider vinegar: 1 T. per gallon of water, use for when the flock has a diet high in grains or for respiratory issues
• herbs (chopped): 1 T. fresh herbs per gallon of water, can be used year-round
• tonics: follow tonic instructions, usually 2-4 T. per gallon of water, use for a specific issues
• probiotics: 1 tsp. per gallon of water, can use year-round

Natural Coop Care

It only seems right that since you are trying to raise chickens naturally, that their living space should be kept natural too. Natural coop care may seem simple, however, there are some misconceptions regarding a few aspects of natural coop care. The issue of using diatomaceous earth in the chicken coop or enclosure is a common controversy. In my opinion, DE has more potential health risks to my chickens than the benefits they might receive from using it. I don’t use DE a lot in my own coop and it seems like my chickens find enough effective places to dust bath without me adding DE to the litter in their coop or enclosure.

Repelling rodents and flies is another issue in natural coop care. Rodent repelling herbs, like mint, may not smell pleasant to rodents, but they aren’t guaranteed to keep rodents out of the coop. With all that being said, here are some simple ways I use to keep my coop natural:

• once a week I pick some herbs to place in the coop (specifically near windows, droppings boards, and in nesting boxes), the herbs will then get dried out, stepped on, and possibly nibbled on
• use homemade cleaners, such as citrus and vinegar, to clean the coop with
• plant or place rodent and fly repelling herbs around the coop (remember, these won’t eliminate rodent or fly problems)
• during the winter months, sprinkle dried herbs in the coop to help it smell fresh

Holistic Remedies

Part of raising chickens naturally on the homestead is dealing with their sicknesses, ailments, and injuries by taking a natural and holistic approach. Try using what resources you have available before resorting to commercially formulated or chemical based remedies.

The best way to use natural remedies for chicken ailments is to know what you’re treating (the disease, injury, or ailment that your chicken has) and what the chosen remedy will do for your chicken. Diagnosing specific issues can be tricky. Lack of researched information on treating chicken diseases naturally leaves us with a lot of unknowns as well.

One thing you should know is that a holistic ‘remedy’ for a chicken ailment is not guaranteed to work. As a matter of fact, not all commercial remedies will work perfectly either. However, natural remedies can be gentler, healthier, and more beneficial for your chicken. That being said, you must set a boundary for yourself. How far do you want to let a sick chicken go before switching remedies? This will be a personal decision for you and each homesteader will have their own boundary line of when holistic approaches just aren’t going to be enough.

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind when using natural remedies:

When Issues Arise

• if the chicken is still eating and drinking, try to keep its diet as close to normal as possible, only incorporate in supplements that will address the suspected issue
• if a sick chicken shows no interest in its feed, try offering it some scrambled or boiled egg before resorting to other supplements
• you can offer herbs to ailing chickens, however, make sure you know exactly what benefits the herb(s) provide; offer them free-choice or chopped in water
• research specific natural supplements that will help with the suspected ailment
• make sure you know the benefits and detriments of the supplement before you offer it

You may also want to check out my post on Treating Chicken Diseases Naturally for some ideas on what holistic remedies to use for certain ailments.

Common Holistic Remedies:

• garlic: crush garlic into your ailing chicken’s water to provide anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-parasitic, anti-microbial, and anti-oxidant properties
• probiotics: good for gut issues because they help restore beneficial gut flora
• herbal balms & salves: apply to minor wounds, cuts, or scratches after the bleeding has been stopped
• molasses: helps with flushing toxins and dead parasites
• Epsom salts: external usage helps with treating bumblefoot and sprains and swellings; internal usage helps with flushing toxins and reducing diarrhea
• honey: is a natural anti-septic, provides essential nutrients, helps sooth the respiratory system
• homemade electrolytes: helps when a chicken has reduced its water intake
• chamomile tea (cooled): helps with eye issues
• olive oil: can help with crop issues
• oregano: helps prevent and may treat mild cases of coccidia

A Simple Schedule

Knowing how to raise your chickens naturally is one thing, keeping it simple and practical is another thing. You now know how to keep some aspects of natural chicken keeping simple, but what about the practical part? I recommend creating a simple natural chicken keeping schedule. Incorporate in some herbs, feed, supplements, water supplements, and natural coop care into your weekly homestead chicken chores. Here is what my schedule looks like:

Weekly Schedule

• Sunday: give my flock the sprouted lentils I started on Tuesday, start a batch of fermented feed
• Monday: crush 3-4 cloves of garlic into my flock’s water
• Tuesday: start sprouting a batch of green lentils, place spearmint and oregano in the nesting boxes and the coop windowsills, occasionally add chopped herbs to my flock’s water (parsley, rosemary, cilantro)
• Wednesday: give my flock the fermented feed I started on Sunday and start a new batch of fermented feed, add chopped herbs to the fermented feed (parsley, thyme, nasturtium, and small amounts of oregano
• Thursday: break days, I either don’t do anything at all or I plan and prepare some miscellaneous aspect of natural chicken keeping like making a variety of healthy morning treats or seasonal supplements (molting mix, warm winter treats)
• Friday: crush dried eggshells for supplemental calcium
• Saturday: give my flock the fermented feed I started on Wednesday, add chopped herbs to the fermented feed

The chores that I outlined above are ones that I do on a weekly basis. There are other natural chicken keeping chores that don’t need to be done as frequently or only need to be done on a seasonal basis. Here is a list that I keep of seasonal natural chicken keeping chores that need to be done:

Seasonal Schedule (for Michigan weather)

• July-November: harvest & dry herbs
• August-November: high protein supplements for the fall molt
• October-November: free-choice pumpkins continuously for internal parasite prevention
• November-March: warm winter treats such as chicken feed or oats soaked in warm water, soaked sunflower seeds, and small amounts of ground ginger; high energy supplements
• April-May: herbal wormer tonic
• July: springs of mint and frozen berries in the water as cooling supplements

Simple natural chicken keeping on the homestead is beneficial for both your flock and for you! Of course, raising chickens naturally includes way more than just the herbs, supplements, coop maintenance, and holistic remedies I mentioned here. However, by knowing how to simply use some of these more complicated natural remedies, you can help promote health and productivity in your homestead flock!

Raising chickens naturally isn’t the only part of sustainable homesteading! Join us on our modern pioneer journey as we learn to become more self-sufficient! And don’t forget to check out the awesome resources we have available in The Trading Post to help you become a modern pioneer!

by Alexa