Chickens supplements Glycerin
Little coop science lesson for today! Let me know if you heard about this before in the comment.
We all know the saying "oil and water don't mix," right? Well, that can be a problem when we are trying to give our chickens oil based supplements (like oregano oil, garlic oil, flaxseed, oil, etc.). This trick Vegetable Glycerin.
Just add just a couple of drops acts as an emulsifier, it helps the oil blend evenly with the water instead of just floating on top. In the small clear bottle, you can see my homemade vitamin concentrate (which is an oil base) mix ready to go!
⚠️ Note I know some people use glycerin to bath their exhibition birds, but I have never done that personally, so I cannot give any advice on using it for grooming. There is also an old homesteading trick where you added it in the water and it prevent it from freezing. I am doing that experiment. I will also keep you guys posted on those.
🛑 A quick reminder Please do not take my content and repost it to your page just to spin it into a negative for cheap clicks and likes. Remember, there are always consequences to your actions. My content is simply based on the things that I do for my birds that work for me. There are no subscriptions and no gatekeeping over here just sharing the love for these beautiful birds! 💖🌱🌷
#chickencare #poultryhealth #coophack #vegetableglycerin #oreganooil #chickenkeeper #backyardchickens #diyvitamins
When caring for backyard chickens, ensuring they get proper nutrition is key to maintaining their health and productivity. One challenge I faced was how to effectively provide oil-based supplements such as oregano oil, garlic oil, or flaxseed oil mixed into drinking water without the oils just floating on top. That’s where vegetable glycerin comes in handy as a natural emulsifier. Vegetable glycerin is a clear, non-toxic liquid derived from plant oils, widely used in food and cosmetics for its moisturizing and emulsifying properties. When added in small amounts, just a few drops, it helps the oil-based supplements blend evenly with water. This prevents the oils from separating and ensures that each sip your chickens take contains the full dose of beneficial nutrients. From my experience, using food-grade vegetable glycerin not only improves the effectiveness of homemade vitamin concentrates but also reduces waste from floating and discarded oils. It’s easy to prepare a concentrated mix by blending your chosen oil supplements with glycerin before diluting in water. This method offers a consistent and palatable way for your flock to receive supplements that support immunity, digestion, and overall vitality. Additionally, vegetable glycerin has other practical uses around the coop. Some homesteaders use it in winter to lower the freezing point of water, helping prevent ice formation in outdoor waterers—a useful trick to keep fresh water accessible in colder months. Although I haven’t personally tried glycerin for bathing exhibition birds, I’ve read that it can be used for grooming to enhance feather health, though further research and caution are advised. It’s also important to source 100% pure food or cosmetic grade vegetable glycerin, ensuring it’s safe for animal consumption. SimpleNature, for example, offers reliable gallon containers that many keepers find convenient and cost-effective. Overall, incorporating vegetable glycerin into your chicken care routine is a simple yet effective coop hack to improve supplement delivery and potentially aid in water management during winter. Sharing personal experiences and tips like this encourages a supportive community where backyard poultry keepers learn and thrive together.