Comfrey (The Wonder Plant?) for the Chickens

[@4cysmith]

I live in Northern California in zone 8, with summer drought features. I love comfrey. Huge mounds of luscious leaves cover my garden in the summer. I chop and drop five times a year. Once the weather turns chilly in the fall, the comfrey plant goes dormant until spring. I have transplanted or spread out the plants both in the fall or the spring. The summers in this area can be hot and sometimes the comfrey plants die back from lack of water, but they pop right back up when the rain starts.

[@Arkryal]

A little info (which I'm sure you've seen in your travels, but not covered in the video). Comfrey is not an ideal chicken feed. They will eat it, but it's not a chicken's food of choice. My geese however love it. One goose can keep about 30 plants mowed down all the time. It's not the minerals you're after. It has alkaloids which trigger cell division. This is what's used medicinally to heal wounds. However, it also super-charges bacteria on a compost. It also has uses healing wounds on trees, and expediting rooting on cuttings. It can boost plant growth, BUT there must be adequate nutrients to fuel that growth or the plant grows thin and weak. Good for indoor cloning where you have controlled lighting and CO2 levels. Some tests have show it to trigger fruiting in mushrooms, though drenching mycellium in comfrey juices isn't great for the taste. Might be useful if you're trying to degrade tree stumps, but otherwise it's of limited use for mycoculture. All of these effects are attributable to it's cell division trigger properties, not the nutrients. For cultivation as fertilizer, I dig a 6"x6"x100' trench. I drill post holes down 24" deep at 12" spacing inside the trench to loosen the soil and give the taproot a smooth path straight down. Fill the holes with loose materials like coco coir and sand and plant in that. Now a riding mower with a bagger can straddle the trench, leaving the base of the plant undisturbed, but rapidly collect the leaves. Here's the study erroneously interpreted by so many blogs (most of whom haven't read it). dacemirror.sci-hub.bz/journal-article/fd056fa00a331a3f85de27d546337362/liu2009.pdf Never let a plant grow more than 2 years without dividing it. They start to decline after that. Bocking 14 is not seedless. Rather the flowers are not self-fertile, and the structure of the flowers makes it difficult for bees to get deep enough inside to pollinate it. You will still get some viable seed, but it might be one or two volunteer plants a year and not 12,000. This is still significant because there is genetic diversity in the bocking lines, they are not all clones from the original mother plant, and there is some variability depending on the source of the plant. This is an extremely useful plant, but it is a bit over-hyped. Many of it's benefits are found in other plants. Few however are as easy to grow, or as fast growing as comfrey. Horsetail and nettle are better fertilizers, but nettle stings, and horsetail is hard to grow in large volumes due to it's small, leafless form. Comfrey's real benefit is that anyone can grow it with little effort and get a large enough yeild from a small area to fertilize a much larger area. Instead of a 3:1 compost crop to food crop ratio, with comfrey it's 1:1. 100²ft of comfrey fertilizer 100²ft of vegetable garden (depending on the vegetables used and their planting density of course, but as a general rule, it holds). With comfrey, I find it's good for shallow-rooted fruit trees. I plant them inside the drip-line of the tree, but never less than 24" from the trunk in a ring. Chop & drop is just a weed-whacker and 10 seconds per tree every 3 weeks to keep the area mulched. It's not really adding nutrient to the tree, but rather recapturing nutrients that wash through the soil, bringing them back up to the top. As I said, it also attracts the geese, and they do drop a lot of fertility under the trees. Don't forget, you can easily get $10 for a one-year crown. I can divide the crowns in about 20 pieces on average each year and have them re-grow to their original size in the following year. So mass propigation is easy, and there's a market for the plants themselves. Don't under estimate that. If it's chicken feed you're after, I've finally closed that loop. I use a pond stocked with fathead minnows. I cut a pool noodle into coins, stick a sprig of watercress in each one and float it. The watercress grows very fast free floating, which becomes chicken feed. Likewise, I feed the hens a net full of minnows which breed quickly enough that you don't run out. Mulberry trees over the pond serve as fish feed (leaves) and seasonal chicken feed (mulberries). The watercress keeps the water clean at high stocking rates. The snails and their shells which inhabit the pond and come up with every clump of watercress are the size of BBs and the chickens love them. Extra protein and calcium from them. I find that 20²ft of water surface area feeds one hen pretty much continously throughout the season. I'm further north with longer days, so you might need to scale up a bit, but you have the longer season, so the return should be greater when established.

[@Arkryal]

Sorry, I linked the wrong paper, lol: cyber.sci-hub.bz/MTAuMTAxNi9zMDM3Ny04NDAxKDAyKTAwMjkzLTY=/wilkinson2003.pdf

[@MockYNinja]

While bocking #14 may not be the preferred cultivar of chickens (even though my ladies eat it without issues), bocking #4 is said to be. As far as I understand it, it features smoother leaves and has a less bitter taste, so that may be why they prefer it? Purely based on what is stated in various books, bocking #4 is the cultivar of choice if it's strictly going to be used as fodder. As a bonus, it is especially advantageous in dryer climates since it features deeper roots than bocking #14.

[@TaManThanawat_Tah]

Could you please provide me more infomation or the source of info about this "Some tests have show it to trigger fruiting in mushrooms" I'm a mushroom farmer in Thailand and really interesting about this comfrey benefit. Thank you.

[@PeterSedesse]

Another one to look into is Moringa trees, but don´t grow them as trees. Prune repeatedly from 10 feet down to 3 feet. A row of moringa small trees to the north of a row of comfrey is a ton of cut-n-feed highly nutritious greens for chickens and rabbits. Moringa is the same as comfrey in that it has a main tap-root that goes straight and deep so you can pack them together really close and they get their own water.

[@CharlesGinzel]

THANK YOU! it's so refreshing to hear someone talk sensibly about comfrey...

[@catfunksfabulousfinds]

Comfrey likes water & part shade It came up volunteer near fir trees on the back of my property. I live on 1.5 acres in Oregon. I had 3 two years ago. This year we had more rain than normal. Rained all the way thru June. That back area used to be horse pasture it's all bordered by large fir trees. This year I didn't get a chance to mow back there it rained so much. A larger comfrey came up about 12 feet away and it was in full bloom when It finally stopped raining. It's a full 3 feet tall while blooming which tells me it really liked all that rain. Now it's hot so I'm going to take some water back there. My brother lives in hot Southern Oregon near a creek. Comfrey comes up in the shady areas where the soil is more clay, but still het some moisture from the creek. If your planting comfrey in potting mix in southern Ca your going to have to water it all the time unless you can mix some clay soil with it. I guess I can send you some.

[@ronbootsfarm8266]

We planted Bocking 14 in the flower beds at our old place and it did fine. It received more water being in the beds and had those very pretty purple flowers. I would cut it back and either mulch with it or give it to the chickens. I I planted some more back by the fruit trees where it didn't get as much water and it never got going. That was in East Texas where it gets quite hot as well.

[@npecom]

From my own experience with growing Bocking #4 comfrey (also seed sterile), production can be expanded about 10/1 by simply dividing the crowns each season. I currently use it mostly for compost and mulch . One thing I really like is how rapidly and completely it breaks down (like it WANTS to be soil!). My chickens will eat it but, as others have mentioned, it isn't their first choice as a green. As my production rapidly increases, comfrey will be used as compost, tea (for plants), chop & drop and red wiggler food. The chickens REALLY like the worms!.

[@kirkjohnson9353]

Comfrey is one of my favorite plants. I mostly use it to fertilize with. In the summer I harvest it relentlessly to stuff into buckets and then cover it with water. It makes a great fertigation source. I place the buckets all over my garden. I have actually tried to kill a clump by over harvest. It didn't even slow the plant down. Mine is Bocking 14 also. Steve Solomon suggests that the fertility of a plot of land could be maintained indefinitely by having an equal size piece of land growing comfrey and using it for fertilizer. I put comfrey in places where I wouldn't grow something else. This way it essentially uses no space.

[@Kauffsalot]

I have bocking 14 as well and I've seen my chickens eat the crap out of comfrey.

[@danielwagner6290]

I started comfrey buy seed in starter kits for vegetables. Worked great they need the sun to germinate seeds I transplanted them outside and never had to do another one. They like half shade better than full sun but will grow in the Sun just not as good.

[@buenavistagardens6544]

Interesting that all of the hype about accumulating nutrients is bogus. I still tend to believe it's a good compost activator though and that's why I use it. Had no idea chickens would like the leaves, I'm gonna start trying that out

[@Kauffsalot]

I had a similar idea using comfrey for chicken forage. I wanted to get it established in the chickens main run while I rotated them around the rest of the yard. The idea was the comfrey would be established by the time the chickens came back into their main run. It didn't work. The chickens ran out of forage in the rest of the yard before the comfrey was fully established. If I had given the comfrey a couple more months I think this would have worked. It was getting hot at that time and the main run is where the majority of the shade is in the yard so I opted to terminate the experiment in favor of the birds comfort. I'd suggest giving the comfrey adequate time to fully develop into the bushy beast it wants to be. I live in zone 8b pleasant hill ca. Good luck!

[@djangoapple8230]

Try bamboo for additional livestock food source. Very high in protein and evergreen even in some of the coldest parts of the country. Multiple uses and varieties. Be carful to choose what will work best for you.

[@pattihayden8100]

I purchased comfrey seeds and put them in a bag with coconut coir about 30 days ago. I just put everything into another container and set it outside. I’m not sure what’s going to happen cause I didn’t see anything sprouting. It’s still in the coconut coir, so......hopefully with the warm weather getting ready here in Las Vegas I might? Get germination???

[@SamDaManX]

What do you recommend as a crop for chickens in a run. Living in TN. I was looking at mixes, grasses, etc.. Perennial would be awesome, but ok with annual if better.

[@DiegoFooter]

Nothing will survive them in a run. I would go cheap and use some sort of grass if I did anything.

[@SamDaManX]

@@DiegoFooter thanks for the feedback brother. I’m starting to come to the same realization. Nothing will last in there. I’ll try to do a grass in there and maybe make like two plots where I can throw in some pasture mix. Keep them off one to germinate at a time kinda thing?

[@DiegoFooter]

More like 12 sections and they rotate around in a wagon wheel motion.

[@SamDaManX]

@@DiegoFooter hahaha 🤣 I only have 8 chickens (for now). But yeah I think two probably won’t cut it either. Still trying to figure out some good cheap seed. Buuuut I do appreciate your channel mate. I’m glad I found it! It’s golden. Keep it up

[@sandrakendrick176]

I have a “grass box” in my chicken run. It has chicken wire over the top so the girls can only eat what reaches the top of the box. I’ve planted grass, dandelion, and other weeds in it for them. They love it.

[@ImAChristianFirst]

My chickens love the Bocking #4 I have. They eat all the leaves I pick for them pretty fast. I consume them as well.

[@the60s87]

You eat the comfrey how do u prepare it

[@ginapaquet5563]

good luck... no luck with seeds... I'm interested to see how well you do.

[@PerimeterPermaculture]

Comfrey is listed in Dave Jacke's book "Edible Forest Gardens" Vol II, p535 in the section labeled "Dynamic Accumulators" along with many others. I have not found it to be a plant that chickens will eat. I use it mostly in fruit tree guilds, planting around the base of the trees that can then be chopped and dropped for fertilizer right on the spot. You can ferment it in water for a few days and then use it as a liquid fertilizer, though it really stinks. If you ever cut yourself put a piece on the cut and you will be amazed at how fast it heals. I did a video of dividing it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jKnafHuIia-Laq8

[@verachka7536]

Cranberry Hibiscus, lambs quarters, banana leaves, Moringa

[@verachka7536]

Another few chickens love and very easy to grow.

[@npecom]

@@verachka7536 Thanks, we will try those.

[@shashakeeleh5468]

I grew Comfrey from rootings and they grow like crazy. Had the plants themselves, and they couldn't adjust, so rootings are best. Diego, where do you get your straw? Brand name? Thanks!

[@priayief]

Good video. Glad that you are "debunking" the "dynamic accumulator" myth. I live in a semi desert area and have grown Bocking 14 for several years. I use it mostly for mulch and frequently as an addition to my compost pile. Gotta admit it is prolific and hardy. As far as feeding to chickens? Dunno. If you have the space, it is good value (and you don't really have to give it a lot of care and attention). Cheers.

[@carriejones4192]

Chickens only eat small amounts, guinea fowl love it, but hens absolutely no. It's great for composting and it does die back in winter but it's still worth having. Hens are more inclined to eat it if it is cut up finely.

[@stevensunsera8727]

I have got to say if you want food for livestock (any livestock) .microgreens is your amswer.

[@screwsloose52]

Will covering the land cause the comfry to die? Or will it just shoot roots sideways away from the plastic and keep growing?

[@DiegoFooter]

I don't know. I don't use plastic.

[@Arkryal]

Covering does work, but the roots can remain viable for up to a year. As such, this is a long-term process. Best to dig up all that you can first, then cover it. Use a clear plastic sheet, and cook the roots in the sun. In loose soil, it doesn't spread too far laterally under ground. Most side growth is from the leaves toppeling over and taking root near by.

[@screwsloose52]

Joseph Miller i put down clear plastic first so all seed sprouts then black plastic to kill everything. I know some plants will shoot roots sideways and keep it pushing

[@juliesmeets7496]

may come off weird, but you have a very relaxing voice Diego!

[@andrear5730]

I do not know how many chickens are you going to feed/implement but I think you could investigate in some sort of grain fodder in order to have a constant and reliable source of feed.

[@andrear5730]

btw search for this Comfrey an Organic Fertilizer and Mineral Accumulator you can Grow at Home on yt

[@DiegoFooter]

That's too much work for me. This is just a supplement to the bagged feed that they get.

[@jeangreenfield5993]

Worth its weight in gold to feed the pollinators 🐝🐝🐝🌻

[@zororaranch5733]

I tried to grow comfrey in San Diego but gophers got them, how do you protect against gophers?

[@DiegoFooter]

These went straight into the ground, so we'll see.

[@screwsloose52]

Zorora Ranch wire mesh under the bed. Traps Or poison...

[@AgsiSD]

You call Bill Murray from Caddyshack.

[@4cysmith]

I have lots of problems with gophers, but they never have taken down a comfrey.

[@OldesouthFarm]

My goats eat the heck out of comfrey!

[@erinnkemp]

Invasive plant. I have a customer has a problem with it. : (

[@jerrysnelling8665]

It's only invasive if you don't use it. It's the ultimate "chop and drop plant" and it makes an amazing biodynamic tea for plant health. The Bocking 14 only spreads by root division. The standard comfrey plant is the one that spreads and produces seed

[@BestEasyWormTea]

I like your enthusiasm, but your advice is way off base. You are making your decisions and recommendations based on "Studies" whose details you do not give and may not know. I suggest you should give your personal results based on personal experience which, at this point, you appear to have none, IMHO.

[@DiegoFooter]

The hole video is about me trying something I haven't done before, there isn't a recommendation in the video.