Beni Houshi Whole Plant Soup — A Backyard Chicken Recipe

What do your backyard chickens drink? Water, sure, but that doesn’t meet all of their nutritional needs. Part of sustaining a hatchery includes using the crops from our own farm. We find joy in creating recipes not just for ourselves, but for the chickens we’re selling to great folks like you.

In Agricultural Zone 5B, we are growing beets, carrots, and brassica like Beni Houshi Mizuna from Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. They’re doing well and are fantastic for salads at the Farmhouse, but we also want to add nutritional value to our chickens. As a hatchery, we’re focused on the health of the eggs from a viability standpoint. 

What Do Graywhale Farms Chickens Eat?

We feed our day-old chicks, pullets, and gorgeous hens a hearty meal supplemented with 22% protein for our rare bird species and 28% protein for the game birds like the Liege Fighter. Because of the mineral deficiencies here in Door County, we also supplement their diet with Selenium, Calcium, and Vitamin E. We also add a couple of ounces of apple cider vinegar to our chickens’ water, too. 

We’re raising our birds so that they can produce viable chicks. Your egg-laying backyard chickens only need a 16% protein mix. With this Beni Houshi Whole Plant Soup, we’re supplementing our flock with Vitamins A, C, and K (K is good for bones) as well as antioxidants.

“Mizuna is a leafy green vegetable that’s low in calories but high in antioxidants and several important vitamins — especially A, C, and K. It may bolster eye, bone, and immune health, among other benefits.” Healthline 

Beni Housihi Whole Plant Soup Chicken Feed Recipe

When mixed, we distribute about ¼ cup per chicken – a good portion size for a backyard chicken flock.

• Harvest Beni Houshi Mizuna from your organic garden. 
• Wash and clean the Beni Houshi. We had a good handful.
• A good handful of carrots and beets are also used in this soup.
• Cut the tops and bottoms from all of the veggies. 
• Add 6 quarts of water to a 12 qt pan. Of course, we used our deep aquifer well water. 
• Add the Beni Houshi and carrots. Bring to a boil. 
• Cover and allow to simmer on low for about 2 hours. 
• Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Drain the liquid for the Whole Plant Soup; the remaining cooked veggies can be put into your compost pile.
• Store in a sealed container and refrigerate.
• Add 6 oz to 4 qts of water weekly.

How are you adding nutrition for your chickens?

Enjoy!!