Wednesday, July 1, 2009

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I am the vine



"I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon."

John 15: 5-7
The Message

All natural chickens

One of the many joys of raising these wonderful chickens is knowing exactly what they eat. That's in addition,of course, to being privy to how they spend their days, how comfortable they are and their general happiness level on a day to day basis.

One of the treats that we give our chickens from time to time is organic plain yogurt. I know, I didn't believe it myself when I first read about it. Yogurt to chickens! Bah! But believe it or not, it provides the very same benefits to chickens that it does to us humans--beneficial bacteria. And if there is anything the world needs more of.... it's beneficial bacteria.
I have been committed from the get go to raising these chickens as naturally as possible. That's meant no vaccinations, non-medicated feed and general common sense regarding cleanliness of waterers and feeders. I believe that our practices have worked. Out of 52 chicks we have only lost two-- one within the first two days from what must have been genetic issues and the other due to unknown reasons. That's a pretty good track record.
So, to be able to offer them something so simple that is also so helpful, well, it just makes me glad.
And they LOVE it! I mean full on, out and out devotion. I do believe that if they could get away with laying down and rolling in the stuff, they would do it in a heartbeat.
As you can see in the second picture, heads and tails are in the air, yogurt is flying, they eat it off of each other and they keep looking up at you to see if you are going to give them some more.
Soon, chickies, soon.