As a homesteader who is determined to create a nearly fully self-reliant life for myself and my family the amount quantity and quality of resources we produce on our own land is crucial in meeting this goal of self-reliance!
A few years back my husband and I purchased a small two-acre wooded lot in the mountains of south central Washington state. In the midst of building our home, we also started a large food plot growing in a regenerative organic fashion, started beekeeping, built a pond, got really well-versed in making sourdough- everything-, and expanded our chicken flock.
One of the main components of our homestead and self-reliance aside from the food we can and eat fresh from the garden is our flock of chickens and the fresh eggs they produce. Over the years there are a few things we have learned, tried, failed, and succeeded with our girls in promoting better health and higher egg counts. Read on to learn some inexpensive ways to boost your hen’s health that also doubles your egg counts!
Free-Ranging- If You Can
When we first moved onto our land we didn’t know what predators existed and were nervous so we kept our girls in their fenced run, a 50’ x 50’ space. A year later we started letting them free range which overall boosted their physical health, appearance, and happiness. Chickens are carnivores and need real protein, nothing beats a bug in their book. The added protein and happiness from laying actually made them lay a lot more eggs that were bigger and likely much more nutrient-dense. Also free-ranging cut down on our feed costs as they received most of their food for free, off the land, and controlled bugs around the house, win-win.
Herbal Additions
We started adding bulk cheap spices to their feed, especially through fall and winter, which boosted their immunity and helped them to regulate their normal hormone levels, leading to an equal supply of eggs being laid through the darker months of the year. We found that red pepper flakes helped with worm and parasite control and oregano leaves overall boosted their immune system, keeping the girls happy and healthy!
Compost Scraps
Diversity in the diet is key, especially if your chickens are eating just feed daily. By adding in veggie and fruit scraps from your kitchen your chickens will overall benefit from the nutrients and minerals they obtain. Which helps with neurological function, heart health, kidney function, and immunity. The added pleasurable tastes and ‘scratch and peck’ they get from the scrape piles will boost their happiness, helping them to help you with more eggs. There are certain things chickens can’t eat- such as raw potatoes- so be sure to look into it before tossing it their way!
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