SPECIAL POST: Elder Farms Products for Chickens
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | February 6, 2024
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Elderberries are a powerful holistic berry that has been used in ancient medicine for centuries. Elderberry supplements should certainly be a staple in your homestead medicine cabinet. Additionally, you should stock them in your natural poultry first aid kit too! You can use elderberries to boost your flock’s immune system to keep them healthy and productive. They can also function as a holistic remedy to be used when a flock member is ailing. When choosing to use elderberry supplements for your flock, it’s important to consider the sources and other ingredients contained in elderberry supplements. Let’s take a look at some elderberry supplements that I recommend you keep stocked in your poultry first aid kit!
Disclaimer: In this special post, I’ll be focusing on the Buehler Organics elderberry production and Elder Farms elderberry products. All opinions are my own.
LIMITED TIME OFFER! Use code HEALTHYHENS on your next Elder Farms products purchase to get 10% off your order! Suggested products:
~ dried elderberries 8oz.
~ dried elderberry powder 4oz.
~ elderberry immune syrup 8oz.
~ elderflower honey 8oz.
American Elderberries for Chickens
First, I want to address that elderberries are safe and beneficial for chickens. But, as with most powerful holistic remedies, you must understand how to safely use elderberries for your flock. To learn more about feeding elderberries to your chickens, check out my article on Benefits of Elderberries for Chickens!
Like many plants, there are several different varieties of the elderberry plant. The most common elderberry variety that you see sold or made into holistic remedies is the European elderberry (Sambucus nigra). As you might guess, the European elderberry is native to Europe and is usually dried and imported for use in the United States.
However, there is another elderberry variety to consider… the American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis). The American elderberry is a plant that is native to North America and would have been used by the Native Indians and early settlers. Here is how the early settlers would have used the American elderberry plant:
- flowers & leaves: pain relief, reduce swelling & inflammation
- bark: diuretic, laxative
- berries: treat influenza, infections, headaches, dental pain, heart pain, and nerve pain
Not only are American elderberries natively grown, but they also contain more benefits for chickens than the European variety of elderberry.
Benefits of American Elderberry for Chickens
The main reason why the American elderberry is more beneficial for chickens is because it contains additional anthocyanins that the European elderberry variety does not contain. The acylated anthocyanins that the American elderberries contain are more stable and don’t break down as easily when the elderberry is processed. That means the final elderberry product retains more nutrients.
Immunostimulant:
Anthocyanins are bioflavonoids which are a compound of antioxidants. Antioxidants work as immunostimulants to help build up a strong immune defense. Immunostimulants are naturally occurring compounds that stimulate the immune system so that a chicken is more resistant to disease. Basically, they activate the immune system to fight disease-causing pathogens, viruses, bacteria, and microbes.
According to some research done on a poultry Corona virus variant, American elderberries can render certain viruses non-infectious when the infection is caught and treated in time. Some of the antioxidants contained in elderberries are 3.5x stronger than vitamin E!
Fight Free Radicals:
Antioxidants also fight harmful free radicals in a chicken’s body. The body is always producing free radicals. Some free radicals are simply a byproduct of natural cell processes. The body also produces free radicals in response to environmental stressors, such as ammonia fumes, smoke, carcinogens, or ultraviolet rays.
A chicken’s body must maintain a proper balance of free radicals and antioxidants. If too many free radicals are present, they start causing cell damage and oxidative stress. Prolonged oxidative stress leads to an increase in risk for chronic diseases and even DNA damage.
The antioxidants contained in the American elderberry help fight harmful free radicals in a chicken’s body.
Rich in Nutrients:
American elderberries also contain a healthy source of other essential nutrients that a chicken needs in its diet. A chicken should receive all the nutrients it needs from a balanced diet. You can use elderberries as a supplement to add additional nutrition to your flock’s diet.
Here are some of the nutritional benefits provided by elderberries:
- extremely rich in vitamin C
- good source of dietary fiber
- rich in vitamin A
- good source of vitamin-B complex
- contain minerals such as calcium, potassium, magnesium, iron, and phosphorus
About Buehler Organics & Elder Farms
As a modern pioneer, I put value in supporting local farms and businesses. If I can’t make or grow the product myself, I want to at least support other farmers and homesteaders who can make or grow the product for me to use. And when it comes to food and holistic remedies, I also want to know where those foods or ingredients are being sourced from.
Buehler Organics is a connection of mid-west farms who focus on cultivating the American elderberry. These small farmers cooperatively work together to provide a source of organic, locally grown elderberries to be used in organic elderberry products. Elder Farms is the main hub for where those organic, American elderberry products can be purchased.
Why Organic?
Organic farming should be the goal of all homesteaders. Organic farming works with the land and does not introduce harmful chemicals into the environment. Instead of using chemicals, pesticides, and growth stimulants to make produce grow, organic farmers rely on more natural, holistic farming methods to help their crops thrive and produce.
When it comes to elderberries… you want elderberries that are grown naturally and that are not treated with chemicals or pesticides. Not only are chemicals and pesticides harmful for the land (air pollution, water pollution, etc…), but they can also lead to long-term health affects.
Buehler Organics partners with farmers and homesteaders who want to grow their elderberries as naturally as possible.
Why Local?
The term ‘local’ these days can expand beyond the 20 mile radius around your hometown. While I certainly encourage you to support local businesses in your area, you may also have to think a little broader when it comes to sourcing foods or products that can’t necessarily be naturally grown in your area.
Elder Farms offers elderberry products that are made in the USA using USA grown elderberries from Buehler Organics farms. Not only that, but they focus on the American elderberry, which is the variety of elderberry that is native to North America.
Sourcing products that are naturally grown and/or made in the United States is one of my values as a modern pioneer. Not only is buying locally sourced elderberries good for local farmers, but it also means you are getting fresher berries that retain more of their nutrients.
Elderberry Products for Chickens
Elder Farms offers a range of organic American elderberry products that you can use to stock your homestead medicine cabinet. And while you’re at it, consider adding some elderberry products to your chicken first aid kit too. Even though these products have not been approved to be used on food-animals, you have the choice as a homesteader to use natural elderberry products on your flock.
Elder Farms elderberry products are special because…
- they use fresh pressed elderberries that have never been dried
- the elderberries they use in the products have not been stored for long periods of time as in the case of importing dried elderberries
- the products are made in the USA using USA-grown ingredients
- an ultra-low heat pasteurization method is used to ensure the nutrients in the berries remain intake
Here are some Elder Farm elderberry products that are beneficial for chickens:
Elderberry Immune Syrup with Aronia
This syrup combines two of the most antioxidant-rich foods available: elderberries and aronia berries. Together, these berries create a rich syrup that you can use as an immune-system support supplement for your flock. You can also use this syrup as a holistic remedy when a flock member is ailing.
Elderberry Immune Syrup is sweetened with raw honey. Even though chickens could care less if the syrup tastes sweet or not, the honey in the syrup provides beneficial nutrition in addition to the berries. Lastly, the syrup also contains a blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and elderflower. These herbs contribute to the holistic properties of the syrup.
With a blend of holistic ingredients, this elderberry syrup provides these benefits for chickens:
- extremely rich in antioxidants
- antibacterial and antifungal properties (thanks to the raw honey)
- phytonutrient superfood
- aids digestion
- soothes the respiratory system
Elderberry Blend Tea
Elderberry Blend Tea is a unique combination of elderberries, elderflower, peppermint leaf, hibiscus flowers, raspberry leaf, and green tea. This blend combines the holistic powers of elderberries with other herbal plants to create a nutrient-dense tea.
You can brew the Elderberry Blend Tea for your flock and use it as a natural supplement on a weekly basis. Serve the tea at room temperature during cold weather or chill the tea before serving it during hot weather. This tea can provide these benefits for your flock:
- rich in antioxidants
- immune system booster
- digestive aid
- promotes relaxation
Elderflower Honey
Elderflower Honey is Elder Farms farm-fresh honey that they derive from hives that collect pollen from the farm’s elderflowers. Since they keep the honey in its raw state, it retains all the amazing benefits of natural honey. Buying organic, raw honey is important to ensure you are not getting honey from bees who have been treated with antibiotics.
Raw honey is a great natural supplement to have in your poultry first aid. You can give a sip of warm honey water to day-old chicks to give them a boost of calories and nutrition. You can also use raw honey for promoting wound healing and for keeping your flock healthy on a daily basis. Here are some benefits of raw honey for chickens:
- contains 22 amino acids
- provides 27 essential minerals
- contains 5,000 important enzymes
- rich source of vitamin A and B-vitamins
- acts as a prebiotic
- natural antibacterial and antifungal properties
- helps reduce inflammation
- provides digestive support
Herbal Releaf Salve
The elderberry Herbal Releaf Salve combines elderleaf with hemp extract to create a botanically-based healing salve. This salve provides relief from scrapes, burns, bruises, and other external injuries. Salves are helpful for treating external injuries in your flock and you can use them to help prevent frostbite during the winter.
This salve provides these benefits for your flock:
- antiseptic relief
- anti-inflammatory
- antibacterial
- astringent
- calming/soothing
- relieves sun damage
- burn relief
- anti-itch
- moisturizing
- regenerative/restorative
- improves circulation
Pain Releaf Cream
Lastly, the elderberry Pain Releaf Cream is another botanical-based remedy to have in your poultry first aid kit. Like the Herbal Releaf Salve, this cream helps relive general pain from injuries, sore joints, or aching muscles. Since the base of this cream is shea butter, it makes an excellent cream to use as frostbite prevention during the winter.
Thanks to the holistic properties of the organic ingredients in this cream, it provides these benefits for chickens:
- anti-inflammatory
- calming and relaxing
- analgesic properties
- promotes healing
Using elderberry products to promote the health of your homestead flock is easy when you have simple, all-natural products stashed in your poultry first aid kit! You can use elderberries as a natural supplement to ensure your flock maintains a strong immune system for fighting disease. You can also use them as a holistic remedy for treating ailing birds. Elderberry-infused products are helpful when you have an injured chicken or need powerful, holistic remedies for healing wounds or treating frostbite. Start using elderberries to keep your homestead flock healthy, happy, and productive!
To stock your poultry first aid kit (or homestead medicine cabinet) with organic, USA-made elderberry products go to Elder Farms! Interested in growing American elderberries on your homestead? Connect with Buehler Farms to get started!
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