Mary Allen
The dandelion is said to have healing effects, also for chickens. As European ginseng, it is said to increase the animals’ body’s defenses against stress and illness.
Hardly any other plant has as many names as the dandelion: Buggele, Chrottepösche, Sunnewirbel, Ramschfädere, Bettseicher, Chüngelichrut, Tätsche, Weifäcke, Griggele, Furzele and Schwiebluema are just a few of the names used for the plant. A survey in German-speaking Switzerland in 2008 revealed that there are more than 150 different names for this annoying weed in this country.
Anyone who has this dog flower with its deep roots in the garden knows how difficult it is to uproot it. And when this bunny stick becomes a dandelion, you’ll soon have the whole garden full of them. Very few people know that dandelion is not only very healthy but can also be used in the kitchen as well as in the chicken coop.
In spring, the small leaves, mixed with some wild garlic and a chopped egg, make an excellent, vitamin-rich salad. Southerners in particular cook the large leaves as a bitter vegetable. They also grow catalog (leaf chicory in English), a dandelion-like vegetable. You can also find other delicious recipes with dandelion on the Internet, be it honey from the flowers, tea, and coffee, the latter with a taste that takes some getting used to, from the roots or various healing tinctures.
Valuable from the Root to the Flower
Dandelion contains bitter substances that are said to have healing effects. It also contains many carotenoids, which ensure a rich, almost orange yolk color. It’s also rich in vitamins B, C, and E and full of potassium, calcium, iron, and omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for regulating inflammation and the immune system. Potassium is an important component for regulating the water balance in the poultry body. Calcium is important for various metabolic cycles and has a major impact on bones, nerves, and muscles. Calcium is also not only very important for eggshell formation during the laying phase, but also for the bone structure of the growing chicks.
Since dandelion also has an appetite-stimulating and performance-enhancing effect, it is particularly suitable for rearing young animals. Especially in the hot summertime, it is important that the young animals develop well. They should eat, and appetizing herbs have a particularly positive effect on growth. The dandelion should then be chopped up and only served in small quantities in a bowl, for example in a large flower saucer.
If you have the opportunity, you should give small rations several times a day so that they are eaten quickly and the dandelions don’t dry up and lie around in the stable where they get soiled with feces. To keep it fresh longer, you can spray it with a little water.
If you want to prepare your feathered friends a holiday meal that is a real vitamin bomb, you can also mix chickweed and chives into the finely chopped dandelion. It is then a real feast for the eyes to watch the chicks and chickens eating this super menu.
The dandelion is a versatile plant, from which you can not only feed the leaves. The flowers are less popular, but they are also used for employment. Many healthy ingredients can also be found in the seeds, which can be easily harvested and stored in a well-sealed container. And the long taproots have a particularly large number of ingredients, sometimes even more than the leaves. So if you cut dandelions in the garden, you should never throw the roots on the compost. However, these then have to be shredded, either in an all-purpose shredder of the kind used in the household or, a little more laboriously, with a knife or scissors.
Prepare for the Winter Now
However, the ingredients of the dandelion are not always the same but depend on the daily routine and the season. The content of inulin – a dietary fiber for a healthy intestinal flora, which also gives yogurt and other dishes creaminess – should be 1.5 percent in spring and 40 percent in autumn. The milky juice is also believed to provide protection against fungi and bacteria, as it is also used to close wounds. It also contains proteins, tannins, fats, and waxes.
Of course, dandelion can also be dried. Hanging in small bunches in a dry but shady place, it dries in a few days in good weather. You can then rub the leaves in your hand and store them in a well-closable container. In winter, the dried dandelion leaves provide valuable services, whether in wet food or simply in a bowl. However, you can also put whole bunches in a bowl, the chickens will enjoy breaking them up themselves. And thanks to the high content of carotenoids, they will also lay eggs with a beautiful dark yellow yolk. Like all herbs that you want to dry, dandelion should never be exposed to direct sunlight, because if the temperature is too high, the ingredients begin to lose their effect.
Dandelions can usually be harvested from spring to late autumn. Thanks to its long taproots, it also defies dry periods and grows almost everywhere. It can be harvested easily and in large quantities and is invaluable for our poultry.