I love meeting like minded chicken folks during my journey as a backyard chicken keeper. In fact, a few months ago I was able to connect with Dave and Tina, who have recently launched a brand new line of chicken products for backyard chicken keepers through their company, Luv Nest. I was excited to sit down with them and hear about their stories and backgrounds. I love to learn of everyone’s chicken keeping story.
How did you get into chicken keeping?
My grandparents had chickens when I was growing up, and both Dave and I couldn’t wait to have a flock. We knew some folks several years ago who had more chickens than they wanted, and we started with six Golden Comets. That year we went a little crazy and added ducks and geese! Since then we’ve re-focused just on chickens, and now we have a happy dozen.
How many chickens do you have and what breeds?
Our flock is made up of 2 each of six different breeds; Buff Orpingtons, Golden Laced Wyandottes, Australorps, Ameraucanas, Barred Rocks, and Columbian Rock Cross. We hope to add several Swedish Flower Chickens in the spring. We were in Sweden earlier this year for my work, and saw them in a public farm. They are just beautiful, and can handle the cold New England winters well.
Tell us a little about yourselves and your background.
We have a home in New Hampshire, and share it with our flock, two dogs and two cats. My “day job” is as a User Experience Designer; my roots are in Visual Design. My off hours are spent Illustrating and drawing; I have several published book covers and am working on children’s books. You’re welcome to visit my website www.kjhickman.com. Dave has an extensive farm and retail background, has worked in theatre (he has an amazing singing voice!), and even lived the long-time dream of being a working lobsterman. Now Dave uses his varied background to help grow Luv Nest while managing day-to-day operations.
How did you come up with the idea of Luv Nest and what was your first product?
Like you, we love our animals, and want only the best for them. Each time we looked to grow our little backyard family, we agreed on 3 Rules: We would do our absolute best to keep them happy, healthy, and clean. I was working on my Certificate in Herbalism, learning the properties and benefits to over 100 native herbs and plants. That summer, I grew many of the herbs and was sure that the right organic herbs in the right combination could help our flock lead those happy, healthy, clean lives (AND make their living areas smell better!).
I began researching their potential effects for our chickens. We used fresh herbs in their coop, and the chickens loved them. As the winter got closer, and I continued researching and testing, we started using the same dried herbs I was using for myself, and thought – maybe there were other folks who could use this. I had only imagined a small “Etsy” store, but the response my husband received as he visited vendors proved to us that there wasn’t only an interest, but a demand for beautiful, organic, herbal products for backyard chickens.
Can you share with us some of the benefits of herbs with chickens?
There are so many! Just a few would be (my favorite) Red Clover, which is the “star” of our Layer Blend; beautiful laying stimulant, and respiratory system helper, plus it’s a nutritional powerhouse. Meadowsweet is internally soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial herb. We use Meadowsweet in our Chick Mix Blend to help little ones get a healthy start. Another great one that folks might have in their garden is Lemon Balm; Antibacterial, calming and soothing member of the mint family, Lemon Balm is also a powerful anti-viral. We rely on Lemon Balm in several of our Blends. All of our herbs are 100% Organic, and Dave searches for the absolutely best quality available from around the world.
What have you noticed in your flock after using them?
Certainly the coop smells better after using any of the blends! Our flock loves to peck at the herbals, and not every chicken likes the same herbs. For example some love the Comfrey, while others go for Raspberry Leaves first. We have had great success in laying, both in quantity and quality, and our hens are very docile – not skittish or fretful. The aromatherapy qualities help them feel safe, calm, and relaxed, as well as repel rodents, flies and other parasites. The warm, dark space underneath a broody hen can be a breeding ground for parasites. Broodies also tend to get mites and other bugs as they just don’t get out to enjoy a dust bath often enough. We found that using herbs can help safely and naturally avoid that.
Other folks who have used the blends have told us the same things. And the flocks LOVE Luv Nest Nibbles! They eat the Mealworms first, then the Sunflower Seeds, then all the other ingredients… like little kids eating the cherry off an ice cream sundae, first! But unlike a sundae, Nibbles is very, very good for them.
Where can people find Luv Nest?
We’re now available in 14 states, at 65 locations – plus online. Check out our locations page to see updates as we continue to grow.
217 Comments
I would like to start with the Chick Mix and switch to Layer, because I hope to get my first chicks this spring 🙂
I’d love the Layer Blend because our hens could use a little help and stress relief with this cold weather.
I would try the original first just to see who the chickens liked it
Original since have not used before
The original herbal blend – why mess with the original? Would be fun to try and a treat for the girls and my nose 😉
i would love to try any of these products for our girls.
I like all of them. They each are unique. But I love LEMON BALM in anything!
I would love to treat my girls to this. I am sure they would love you forever(or at least as long as they live).
I’d love to try the sample pack. I love using herbal blends in our coop.
I would love to try the layer blend. I think my ladies would find it a treat!
I’d like to try the Original Herbal Blend
i think organic herbal. but my girls love red clover. i know they are missing it about now….
Original Herbal Blend
We live in NH too! I would love to try the layer blend. My girls molted and then just stopped laying.
Critter Ritter
I would just start with original as I’ve never tried it.
They all sound so beneficial but I would start with the layer blend because heading into winter the egg production slows way down and I would like them to have the extra support.
I would like to try the Organic Herbal first for my ladies!
I would like to try Critter Ritter.
I would like to try the Organic Herbal blend.
Layer blend to encourage better laying!!
Red Clover for my layers!
I would love this!!!
The original, nIbbler, or critier ridder would all be nice. I use herbs all summer long but haven’t dried my own. Would love to use them all year long.
This stuff seems amazingly awesome! I think I’d like to try the Critter Ritter first to get rid of any critters!
I would like to try Critter Ritter Blend first.
My girls would love this!!
Great idea! i would love to try this in my nesting boxes 🙂
My girls love Luv Nest! We just tried it! I put it in a few boxes and left some without … the girls only used the nest boxes with it in them … I was amazed! Thanks
I would love to try the layer blend. I have 7 pullets and one Roo. They are just starting to lay and I’m all out of the herbs I grew this summer. Love that I found you!! Thank you for the opportunity!
original blend. love the organic idea for animals as well.
I have read about the benefits of using herbs in the coop, especially in the bedding, but I have not had a chance to try them yet. I would love to try the original blend, or the layer blend either one!
I am an herbalist in training and love what herbs do for people and am excited to learn what they for chickens.
Carmela
The Original blend would be our choice! Our girls get dried comfrey leaves, but the blend sounds terrific!
Can’t wait to try this product! Why did I not think of this?
I’d love to try the Original Herbal Blend. We have 3 small flocks and love them dearly, so much so that we can’t kill any of our roosters- thus the 3 separate flocks!
I would like to try the Original Blend first, because it seems like the right way to start. Sounds like a wonderful product. We have eight chickens and they are awesome.
Original Herbal please!
I would like to try the Layer or Original blend. I have read about using herbs in the nest boxes but have never tried and we are always looking for ways to make our girls happier!
I’d like to try the original first because it was the beginning of the conception of all the rest.
Chix Mix Blend for the lil ones.
Nibbles sounds yummy. My girls would love it!
Organic Herbal would be my pick because happy chickens make happy chicken keepers!!
My hens and I love to practice organic!!
Nest Nibbles. It would be party time in the hen house; they LUUUURV mealworms.
I would like to try the original blend first. What a great idea!
This looks beautiful as well as being healthy.
I’d like to try all of them! I’m sure the birds would love all of them! 🙂
I would like to try the original blend- it sounds like a wonderful treat for my birds! I have never used anything except shavings before…
We have 20 chickens and would love to try critter ritter to fight the fleas in Florida!
Our entire 1/2 acre within the city limits is kept organic and to be able to add an herbal mix for my hen’s health and well being would be wonderful. Thank you for such a beautiful philosophy in the products you provide.
I’d love to try the Chick Mix since I’m starting with new chicks this spring.
I would like to try the original blend first.
It would have to be the ‘nutritional powerhouse’ layer mix for our precocious flock. Our Chickens are free range during the day with kitchen scraps in the morning and some feed in the coop at night, but finding a suitable and natural replacement for their free range diet during the winter months is very difficult.
Experiencing the nasty part and first year problems of molting and wintertime on the chickens. i think the herbs would really help out nod will be trying them soon. Would LUV to try them all.
I love your story! And your hens are wonderful, I will have to look into those breeds. I would love the Layer Blend. Our layers need a boost. We have 8, lost 2 to a fox and 2 to a hawk in the last 4 months
I would love to try the luv nest nibbles as it sounds very healthy for my 17 hens and they love to try new feed.
id try the original herbal blend first
I would like to try the Critter Ritter since I see my hens taking lots of dust baths.
organic herbal i like organic
Original herbal, why not start with the original?
I want to try everything! I would start with nibbles if I had to choose, or perhaps the variety pack. I love the holistic healing aspect of the herbs used, helping combat issues naturally and helping keep flocks healthy!
I would like to try all of them but would prefer the Original Herbal Blend.
Variety is the spice of life!
I would first try the Layer Blend to support my hens egg laying.
I would to try all of them!! I use the mint family during the summer, with lavender & rosemary. I grow them in the garden and the mint grows wild. It seems so nice! The insect repellant is good during the summer months I bet!
I’d like to try all of them. The each have a purpose and I think it’s wonderful.
I would love to try the original blend for our girls. What a great idea and thank you for a great giveaway.
Blessings,
Michelle
Original – as I am new to all this and have to start somewhere
Original Blend!
I would love to try the Original Blend!
love this idea.
I would love to try the layer blend first! Thanks for the opportunity!
Chick Mix, I’m dying to get some chicks come Spring!
Luv Nest Layer Blend
Layer blend, definitely. My chickens only laid for a few months, and then the sudden snow on Halloween stopped them and they haven’t laid again since
My girls would be delighted to try any of these, and the roos would be OK with it too!!
Would love to try the original blend!
I’ve wanted to try herb mixes for my girls now for some time, but finding them in my corner of the world has been tough, now it’s not an issue!
I would like to try the Layer blend. The coop always needs some freshening up
I can’t decide which one to try first! I want to try all of them.
I want to try the critter ritter blend because I don’t want parasites getting to my girls.
I would like to try Critter Ritter. I hear so many recommendations for prophylactically treating chickens for potential mites, etc, but I don’t feel great about putting birds at risk unless there is a known problem. That said, those pests can be hard to detect. I would love to try a product that isn’t harmful and even has other health benefits.
I would love to try the Luv Nest Critter Ritter Blend for my flock.
I would like to try the Layer Herbal Blend on my hens. I know I enjoy relaxing aroma therapy and I’m sure my chickens would too.
Wow, this is great! I would love to try any of the blends! I love herbals for myself, and if it’s good enough for me, then it’s good enough for my flock!
I’d like to try the ‘layer’ blend. The girls have slowed down (actually stopped) and I’d like to remind them why they are here!
Would like to try the original.
The layer blend sounds great! I have a small backyard flock and I bet they would love it
If like to try the original first for my hens.
The original herbal blend would make my girls very happy!
This looks so neat!
Would love to try this!
graceinapril@gmail.com
I would love to try any of them but the original herbal sounds great.
Any of them would be wonderful! I think my girls would love them all!
I would start with the original!
Wow, cool giveaway!
the original blend….I assume the original is a good place to start…
Love herbs and growing them also. What a splendid idea to add them to the bedding for the chickens. I used some of my fresh sage in my Thanksgiving dressing this year. I have cornish bantams and cochin bantams and I would love to try the original blend.
Original Herbal would be a good choice to try
Oh, I’d love to try the layer blend. Winter is a difficult time and I do what I can to make the coop more pleasant for the ladies.
My coop always smells great when I use it and the girls love it too. Thanks for the opportunity to win some.
Herbs are so wonderful and your products sound terrific! I am about to launch my own herbal studies and this would be a great motivator; plus, my Chicky Girls would LOVE some herbs! <3
My gals would love to try the original to start. Thanks for the chance!
They all sound great, but probably the Original Herbal:]
Organic Herbal for my organic ladies that lay for our urban farm!
What a great idea and product! I’ll have to get some of each and let the girls decide on their favorite. Perfect timing, as I just got them a new coop.
I am going to have to make my own if I don’t win. What a great product.
Would love to win and try the Red Clover for our laying chickens!!! Love our site
I’d just start with the original and go from there!
I think my girls would love any of them. I would personally like one that soothes them.
I would love to try both the critter ritter and the layer blend. If I had to choose one to do first…It would be the layer.
I try to keep ahead of any critters so they are never an issue. I think that herbal blend would help with that. And the layer…well anything that helps with getting good eggs is great in my book.
The variety pack to see which one my chickens like best!
I hope i win the Original Herbal Mix. I have a flock of 12 Buff Orpington layers, 2 Buff Orp roos, 2 Easter Eggers, & 4 Guinea Hens. My Orpingtons lay an egg each everyday (and it’s Winter!) so my 6 nest boxes get quite the workout. I add fresh shredded office paper every 2 weeks, but it would be so nice to offer them something a bit more ‘feminine.’ 🙂
I would prefer the Original Herbal Blend
I’d like to try these each, but would want to start with the layer blend.
I would like to try the Layer blend. We were victim to 4 bear attacks and only have 7 layers left. I want to encourage then any way possible. We used to donate eggs to seniors but with the loss of 29 chickens are ability is minimal.
These products all sound amazing. I would love to try any of them.
I would love to try the original herbal blend for my girls..This would make them so happy!
This is fabulous! The Nibblers blend would be lovely!
I would try original or critter Ritter but honestly I want to try them all
I’d go with the layer blend in hopes that the girls will lay in the nest box instead of outside!
I think red clover would be best in the colder monthskeeping theyre bodies weel, feed
I would like the original herbal blend first I think out girls would really like that one.
what a great product, I would love to try the layer blend.
I have used some herbs in my coop and my hens love it. I would love to try growing more of my own. I would love to try the Nest Nibbles. I just know my girls would love those. Thanks for the give a way.
I’d like to try the Layer Herbal Blend. Our hens are three years old and they have slowed down with their rate of laying. Perhaps adding this to the nesting boxes would help that a little bit! Thank you for this opportunity to try a product that I wasn’t aware of previously.
my babies would so love this .
I would like to try the Luv Nest Sample Pack. This sounds like a wonderful idea to keep the girls happy.
At present I use Hay for my five hens, my girls. I believe your organic herbal blend would be more healthier for my girls.
Would like to try the original nesting blend, I use herbs for myself along with essential oils. This is a fabulous idea and I have often wondered about this for the chickens.
Orginal Herbal Blend
We are getting chickens this spring and I am so excited about trying this! I want to try them all but I’ll first start with the original blend!
We’d like to try the critter ritter. I like herbs and the benefits you gain from them.
I’d love to try the Original Herbal Blend first because it looks great
probably Nibbles to try as a treat
Message*Critter Ritter blend
probably the nibbles first
I don’t wanna pick, you surprise me; cause my little ladies are not picky! I reward them with a variety of goodies and they have never turned down any of them. They love apples and cranberries as of lately.
Thanks 🙂
I would try the Original Blend first, then the Critter Ridder
Orginal Herbal Blend
I’m always looking for things that make the life of my birds and myself easier. I want to try the Critter Ritter Blend. I have 35 hens and need all the help I can get. Thanks
I would like to try the layer herbal blend. Well, I’d like to try them all.
I’d love to try the Layer Blend for my hens. They’d love the herbs to nibble on and the calming would be beneficial since we’ve had a hawk scare this week.
I’d like to try the original herb.
I would try the original blend for my flock! 🙂
I would like to try the Critter Ritter. Or maybe the layer blend. I’d like to try them all! 🙂
I’d like to try the original blend, then maybe other varieties.
Have never heard of this, so would like to try it! Maybe start with the Original Herb Blend. Thanks!
Would love to try the Nibbles! : )
Like to try Red Clover mix first…as it is good for laying and respiratory system. Health first always.
I’d love to try the Layer Blend to give my girls a healthy boost!
The originial blend is what I would start with. Interested to see what changes I would see with this added to our routine.
My chickens would love this. I would start with the Red Clover. I have all layers and this would be great to enhance their laying, while strengthening their respiratory system. This is such a great idea. My chickens are truly part of the family. It would be fun to give them a treat. 🙂
I want to try all of them, but if I had to pick one it would be the original blend.
Original blend if I have to choose. This sounds very interesting though so I would love to try them all 🙂
I love this, and would like to try with our poultry! I think any or all would be great can’t decide
I would like to try the original blend. The chicken/duck house gets really smelly in the winter!
Thanks for this great opportunity. Always looking for ways to incorporate herbs into the flock.
We’d love to try the layer blend. We’ve been having issues with nerves lately and aren’t getting any eggs due to frightened girls! Thanks
I’d love to try this in my coop!
Will only add to our organic farming methods.
What a sweet idea!
I’d love to try the layer blend for my girls!
Nibbles please! My girls follow us around the yard waiting as we turn things over waiting for fresh bugs!
What a fabulous product line. We are very excited to learn more about it!
I would love to try the Layer Herbal Blend with the Red Clover to help stimulate my girls.
The original blend would be a great place to start!
I would like to try the Clover Blend to simulate laying, especially now right after the ladies have molted
My girls ( and boy) would love to have there home and breath smell like flowers!
I would like to try the organic herbal blend first
This looks great – a neat way to keep them healthy and make them comfie (and spoil them!). The original blend looks great and would make a good starter 🙂
This looks great – a neat way to keep them healthy and make them comfie (and spoil them!).
I’d love to try the layer blend for my girls!
I’m always for giving my ladies a wonderful treat!
Nibbles! That would keep my girls (and boy) busy and happy through our frigid winter!
I would have never thought of this! What an amazing product!
I would love to try the layer since my girls are so stingy with their eggs
I’d love to try the original blend newbie Chicken coop person and love my gals and guy 🙂
I’d love to try this for our flock. Do ducks like it too? My partner is an herbalist…I’ll have to tell him about this!
I read the descriptions and they all sound great so now I can’t pick. Surprise me!
I would love to try the Critter Ritter.
I would love to try the Organic Herbal Blend.
The original blend sounds like a great place to start! I love the idea of a product that will calm the hens while making the coop smell fresher!
I have been reading a lot lately about the benefits of herbal bedding for chicken. I am very glad to learn there is a company producing it.
We will be starting our flock in the spring. What a great way to start with the Original Herbal Blend,to keep everything fresh and our neighbors happy!
I’d like to try the layer blend first, since it’s winter and the laying has slowed down significantly. But they all sound good.
I would love to give my girls the new Healthy Treat blend because I know how much they love mealworms and the rest of the mix is a bonus!
This would be great
We’re most interested in finding and trying out any/all of your products. Very excited to learn more about them all.
I would like to win the Nibble Mix to give to my neighbor who has on occasion encouraged me to build a coop and join the fun! He shares his eggs sometimes and I can see the benefits I just need a little nudge.
I’ve been feeding my girls from the very limited (and dwindling fast) supply of herbs and flowers that I harvested from my gardens at the end of the year (because I didn’t learn until then that they would be good for the girls!)… would LOVE to try any of your products.
do you happen to know if catmint is okay for hens to eat? that’s pretty much the only plant that is still green and leafy in my flower gardens… but I can’t seem to find any definitive answer as to whether its safe for them.
WOW… ORGANIC… I am a new chicken ‘mama’. I feel if I feed them the BEST then the eggs or meat that I eat will B Best for us… Which blend… I’d like to try all of them…
I would love to try the Critter Ritter, as we have had a terrible time with mites the last 2 years! We have done everything, but they are still bothering our “girls!” It is always exciting to find others who are fighting the same battles and living the lifestyle of simplicity and sustainable living! Thanks for the encouragement!
We’re doing things as naturally as possible in all areas. Luv Nest would be such a wonderful addition.
I would love to try them all, but let’s begin with the Organic (Original) Herbal blend.
I’d love to try the critter ridder blend. I’ve had to deal with chicken fleas before and would like to avoid that in my new coop!
I’d like to try the original blend please.
I’d love to have my girls try the Nibbles or Layer blend.
Message*i would try the Red Clover mix.
I would love to try some of this stuff!
I would love to try the original! How awesome this stuff is!
We love our chickens and love giving them treats!
My chickens love the Nibbles, I would love to try the original or any of them!
I would love to try these to make sure my chickens are happy!
I would love to try the Layer Blend first since I am still waiting on my first Silkie egg!
I would love to try any of them but it seems rafflecopter ddoesn’t like tablets.
My girls would love Luv Nest Nibbles! They are snackers and get excited to try new things.
I would try the Original Herbal Blend first. I love that this is organic and feel good about the carefully chosen ingredients.
I have 6 chickies, 2 each Buff Orpintons, Rhode Island Reds and Black Sex Links. Love them all
I would like to try the Chick Mix blend. Hubby and I had about 60 chickens in our flock, but had to part with them when we moved to my son’s in town. We are now looking forward to getting back out in the country and will be purchasing chicks to get started again. I would look forward to starting them out with your herbal blends to give them a great start! Thank you and happy holidays!
I would like to try the original blend or the layer blend for my girls! thanks so much!
I am sure my girls would love anything with meal worms. They go gaga for them 🙂
Just starting with 6 chickens. Would love to win this great prize !
Just starting with 6 chickens. Would love to win this great prize !
I’d love to try the Nibbles first, I like the idea of the herbs with a treat surprise!
I would like to try the layer blend for my rhode island reds so we’ll get the healthiest eggs for my family to eat.
The girls would want the nibbles. Me? variety pack to try em all!
I’d love to try the original blend for my girls!
Organic Herbal Please – we like organic!