The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Maria1969 on November 12, 2011, 06:01:59 pm
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Hi all,
I have some accient honey in the cupboard, before I throw it away I was wondering if I could give it to my chickens??
Many thanks
Maria
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what is wrong with it in the Egyptian tombs there was honey in them and it was alright :farmer:
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Hi
Nowt really but im not a honey lover, (having a pre xmas cupboard clear out..lol)I bought it for my mum when she visited a couple of years ago its now well past its sell by date and I know she wont eat it when she returns, just thought the chickens might like it??
Maria
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I'm sure I remember Annie saying she made up a 'porridge' for her chooks with oats, warm milk and honey to feed them when it was cold or if they were under the weather - I've not tried it myself (we never have any left after the kids know it's there ::) ;D) but would think, as long as it's not mouldy it should be fine.
HTH
Karen :wave:
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best in water in a cold day i bought a sweet jar full off old honey put a spoon in porridge and water in winter its a antibiotic for animals.they need some think when its very cold a nother good 1 boiled egg choped up with digestive bisgits and some salad oil .
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Thanks all, I will save the honey for when its colder and pop some in their porridge.
:)
Maria
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I can't imagine it would harm your chucks, but you could probably eat it yourself. I think (if I remember rightly) that when they opened one of the Pharaohs tombs there was honey in jars, and when they tried it they found it was still edible
If yours is just set very hard and crystallized just put it somewhere warm - I rest the jar on the back of the Aga overnight, but you could put it in a pan of water and put on the lowest heat on a ring for a few hours. The honey should go back to its original edible state.
Or make some honey based flapjacks, or honey ice-cream, or honey cake........
All the best
Sue
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Maria,
I know you said you aren't keen on honey yourself. I am not a great honey lover either but have found it is great in sauces, BBQ and teriyaki for example. A teaspoonful is also good in a smoothie.
Perhaps you can share it with the chooks
Sally
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I'm sure I remember Annie saying she made up a 'porridge' for her chooks with oats, warm milk and honey to feed them when it was cold or if they were under the weather - I've not tried it myself (we never have any left after the kids know it's there ::) ;D) but would think, as long as it's not mouldy it should be fine.
HTH
Karen :wave:
Yup, when i get ex batts they get set up for joining the rest of the girls, and also in winter - keeps them warm. Cheapest stuff I can find - and yes, the old stuff will be OK
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I have bees and 16 chickens and have never seen them try t eat a living (or dead for that matter) honeybee. Also have not noticed any interference with the bees. additionally I've heard (from a master beekeeper with a PHD in entomology) its actually really good to keep chickens with honeybees as they eat the mites that kill honeybees.
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I'd be very wary of the Phd guy .. the various mites such as varroa and braula are fractions of a milimetre to about 1.2 mm across and they are often found on the bees burrowed into the ecto skeleton , any that are running free would not be eaten by the chooks as in a grooming session they'd try to eat the bee instead but don't because of the danger warnings of colour on the bee .
I have seen chickens try and peck a noisy brood box only to see clouds of defensive bees come out at the drumming sound & mob the running away chook/s.