How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Feeding charcoal.../ Jeff [1 Attachment]

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Feeding charcoal.../ Jeff [1 Attachment]

[Attachment(s) from CathrynTherese Fitch Walden included below]

Jeff, I think your advice is invaluable for feed and bedding. I'd use less of the charcoal in the feed so vitamin deficiencies do not occur. I wish I dared use it in my silkie bedding. My silkies get dirty enough on their own without my adding charcoal. Look at how dirty this head is on my rooster. Now picture him with charcoal in his bedding. Cathryn

On 27 Mar 2011 at 19:01, Jeff Price wrote:

Hi All,

Charcoal for grilling has had additives to change its performance and
should never be eaten. Binders are used to make it stick together.
One binder is boron and this could be in toxic doses if consumed.

Charcoal can be bought at health food stores, pharmacies, over the
counter sections at places like Wal-mart, Target & so on. Charcoal
can also be made with some trouble. Most of the oxygen is removed
during the charing process not allowing the carbon to combust or
burn.

We do make our own charcoal and use it in the garden and spread a
little on the ground or in shavings. We do not have odor
problems(yet), so binding the nitrogen for fertilizer is our main
objective.

Back to additives, I'm not sure what kind of additives they use other
than binders to make the char stick together & substances to make it
burn quicker, better, faster or easier to light.

Sorry, I didn't mean to start a problem.

Jeff