One of the biggest fears in poultry farming is Gumboro and Newcastle disease. Many farmers rely completely on synthetic vaccines, but over the years of raising birds organically, I have built a different routine using local herbs.
Today after work, I visited a friend who runs a large poultry farm. I saw a huge pile of Christmas melon (Tangiri in my language). I quickly collected four for my birds because this fruit is a key part of my brooding routine.
Why Christmas Melon?
In my farm, Christmas melon extract is the first herbal preparation my chicks receive, preferably from day 2 of their lives and within their first week.
I use it as part of my natural disease-prevention routine for young birds, especially during the very delicate early days when they are most vulnerable.
How I Prepare the Extract
The process is simple and uses only water:
Cut the Christmas melon into small pieces.
Put the pieces inside a clean container.
Add clean drinking water.
Cover it and allow it to soak for 7 days.
After 7 days, sieve out the liquid.
Give this liquid to the chicks as their drinking water.
Important Notes
This is not the only herbal extract I use, but it is the most important one in my early brooding routine.
I make sure it is given within the first week of life.
I raise my birds fully organically because I eat them myself and also sell to customers who value naturally raised poultry.
I will be sharing more of the herbal extracts and natural methods I use on my farm as we continue this journey.
If you are interested in raising birds with fewer chemicals and more natural support, you may find this series helpful.
