Page 73 - Summer2008

ences due to the breed and age of chickens, their to my old ways. Not only do I save money on With
diet (grass, insects, and feed) and the season. gas and the premium prices per dozen from my
When left to their own scavenger instincts, farmer, but if I trade my eggs for other goods, I chickens,
being the omnivores they are, chickens eat am actually making money for my family! Also, nothing goes
bugs, worms (and even snakes if given the op- if you get friendly with the organic produce man- to waste.
portunity), grasses and nutritious herbs such as ager at your local health food store, you may be
plantain leaves and wilted nettle—both of which able to score some veggies that are too old for
boost egg production and yolk hue. While these the dinner table, but perfect chicken grub.
feathered friends will eat the grain and pellets Chickens are also an asset to your garden.
left in the feed trough, it certainly isn’t their ideal Chicken manure is high in nitrogen, which is
food. Remember, chickens are omnivores, not great for soil. The henhouse’s bedding makes
vegetarians as many people assume, meaning terri c mulch (be sure to explore the deep litter
they are designed to consume foods from both method for your henhouse). The nitrogen-rich
animal and plant sources. Subjecting chickens bedding should be allowed to break down and
to a strictly vegetarian diet prevents them from compost for at least a year before it is added to
achieving their ideal health by denying them the the garden. When allowed to peck and forage in
nutrients found through scavenging around the the garden (once seedlings are established as well
farm, barnyard and pasture. as after your produce is harvested), the girls will
Compared to eggs from conventionally- clean up pests, naturally fertilize the soil and mix
raised, caged hens, eggs produced by free-roam- everything up with their scratching.
ing and pasture-pecking chickens have more With chickens, nothing goes to waste. Chick-
omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E and vitamin A, ens need a goodly amount of calcium. One way
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along with notably higher amounts of folic acid to provide this is to feed their shells right back
and vitamin B . Direct sunlight also acts as a to them. Different chicken farmers have their
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nutrient and naturally boosts egg production. So own ways of accomplishing this—some just
get your girls out of doors as much as possible! toss the shells right back to them after the egg
is removed, while others dry them in the sun or
REASON #2: MONEY oven and grind them up so that they don’t look
AND TIME SAVINGS like egg shells. One thing to consider: if chickens
Properly raised pastured chicken eggs are get comfortable eating eggs they may start to eat
hard to come by. While going the extra mile what they lay, which would not be good for you
(sometimes literally) is well worth the effort for and your family’s supply.
procuring this nourishing food, now that I know There is even talk about the use of egg
the ease of pulling them out of the nesting boxes shell powder as a calcium source for humans
in my own backyard, I can’t imagine going back too. While I haven’t gone there yet, I will toss

HOMESTEAD LAYER HEN FEED

This recipe is compliments of Vicki Hunnicut, homesteader in Central Colorado.

7 parts organic wheat (soft white or hard red) 1 part organic quinoa
2 parts whole or cracked organic corn 1 part organic sunflower seeds
2 parts organic kamut ½ part flax seeds (soaked and dried)
1 1/2 parts organic sesame seeds ½ part kelp granules
1 part organic hulled barley ¼ part finely ground egg shells
1 part organic millet Fraction of non-iodized salt
1 part organic oat groats
Free choice:
Oyster shell and/or chick (granite) grit
Finely crushed egg shell
Raw goat milk and/or whey

SUMMER 2008 Wise Traditions 71