Finally getting some chickens again and will be raising organically. Would be interested in talking to anyone who has first hand experience with herbs, homeopathy, etc. and permaculture as related to chickens. Have 35 chicks coming in Mid. March. flyingt@micron.net

What is your source for organic feed? That is usually the biggest obstacle to maintaining an organic regimen for livestock.

RE: feed source.... suppose I need to clarify... these are for my own use, grains will unfortunately not be organic... though am not feeding any medicated or "coated" grains. Their diet will be a mixture of grains, organic vegatables, kelp, herbs, etc. I am growing parsley in large troughs for them to free feed from. My main concern is getting their parasites under control. Will be feeding raw garlic, and using herb powders for dusting them. Still looking into the proper "dusting recipe" if you have any info to share.... I am hoping to get some input. Thanks.

You will be following what I would probably call a
"natural" regimen. We do the same thing. I don't know
what part of the country you live in, but you should not have terrible problems with parasites or other problems if you follow principles of good poultry husbandry.
They will not come from the hatchery with serious parasite problems. Hopefully they will not pick those up at your place to any great extent, either. I have never dusted a chicken. What I try to do is to make sure they can use their own defenses to ward off these problems. I provide a dust bath area for them to use. In the winter (stock up on materials before the ground freezes) I like to provide a bath of sandy soil and clean wood ashes (10% ashes?) for bathing.
The main way to maintain flock health is with healthy conditions and good food and water. When I introduce a new batch of birds to a building where others have been, I spray all the surfaces down beforehand with a solution of bleach water strong enough to nail any germs that might be a serious problem. Remember that when you clean your birds out internally with antibiotics, you are killing beneficial flora as well as the bad ones. They don't need sterile conditions, they need healthy conditions.

What will be the purpose of your birds? Eggs? Meat? Pleasure? If you hope for a regular production of either of the first two, you will probably want to look to the protein content of your feed. Mixed grains and garden treats are nice, but few grains are high enough in protein by themselves to provide the nutrient levels non-ornamental birds need. To boost the feed to the 16% protein level needed for mature layers and the 20-28% needed for broilers, your feed needs to be supplmented with high-protein items like soybean meal and other things. Corn only offers 9-10% protein in most areas.

The great thing about raising poultry now is that we can take advantage of all the scientific advances of the past 50 years, but we don't have to raise our birds the way the high-pressure big producers do. You can raise broilers that weigh ten pounds in nine weeks and are so tender you can cut the meat with a fork, but they don't need to carry the dangers of antibiotic-resistant organisms and contamination during processing that the chicken one finds in the grocery store might be subject to.

That is to say, we can use the latest genetics, and raise our birds in a healthy, conscientious way that allows them happy lives and gives us better products than we can purchase from the agro-industrial complex.

If we provide optimum conditions and good stewardship, the birds will more than do their part. I hope this helps. I would be happy to discuss more specific things with you as you prepare for the happiest day on the farm: the day the new chicks arrive!

Thanks, Bruce for your information! Nancy, I'd be interested in your progress with your new chickens! I have 7 5 months old and 17 2 1/2 months old black Australorps, and one 2 1/2 month old rooster.
We try everything 'organic" , too. The chicks adopted me as their big hen, and sit on my lap for their afternoon nap, when I take a break.
Lately I have started introducing kitchen leftovers as treats, avoiding anything with seasoning. They LOVE rice and mashed potatoes, and peaches.
Otherwise they get Start+Grow and have big yards to eat greens and scratch.
Lately some of them have a little bit of dhiarrea and some sometimes sneeze. Is that normal?
And does anyone know how old chickens get? We're buddhists and are not going to kill them , so what is their natural life expectancy? How long will they lay eggs?
Hope to be able to stay in touch!