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  1. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ left overs OK or no?

    You should be OK with this mix. But, when it comes to feeding treats and scraps, we recommend following the 90/10 rule, meaning that 90% of the diet should come from a complete feed and no more than 10% of the diet should consist of treats, scraps and other supplements. There are all sorts of...
  2. DrMikelleRoeder

    Niacin Question for the Folks at Purina

    So sorry for the delayed response, casportny! This spring has been a busy one! We fortify each of these products with considerably more than enough to meet the niacin requirements of each of the relevant species. Layer chicks need a minimum of 27 ppm for the first six weeks of life, less after...
  3. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ lack of niacin?

    It would help to know what product you are feeding him. Purina Flock Raiser Poultry Feed is designed for young ducklings and meets all of their nutritional needs, including niacin. If all the other ducklings are healthy, he may need a visit to the vet. He could be exhibiting some form of neuropathy.
  4. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Purina Flock Raiser

    Purina Flock Raiser Poultry Feed is a great choice for flocks consisting of mixed ages. Because you have some birds that are of layer age, we recommend supplementing oyster shell to support strong egg shells. Once all birds in your flock reach 18-20 weeks of age, it would be best to transition...
  5. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Rooster Alternative?

    A lot of times people think that coops and runs are designed to keep chickens IN when really they’re also designed to help keep predators OUT! The best thing to do when setting up a coop or other structure is to make sure it is well fortified against the kinds of predators that can be found in...
  6. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Feather picking and possible eating

    Hmm. This is a tricky one. Nutrition could definitely be a factor, but it sounds like you have a pecking situation in your flock. Pecking can be the one-size-fits-all response to a number of stressors, and stress comes in many shapes and forms. Pecking can be caused by: 1. Space -- not...
  7. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ When to start feeding chicks scraps?

    This is such a great question, chevychix – and a common one! I would avoid feeding your birds dried egg shells. We do not recommend feeding egg shells because we never want the hens to get the idea that eating eggs is a good thing, as that can encourage the development of egg-eating behavior...
  8. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Commercial layer recipe

    From my experience, it can be very difficult to achieve optimum nutrition with a homemade feed recipe, simply because there is such a delicate balance of nutrients needed to keep birds healthy and productive for many years. Birds require many different vitamins, minerals and amino acids in the...
  9. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Apple cider vinegar

    Unfortunately, the broad claims for the health benefits of vinegar that you see are grossly exaggerated. There are very few scientific studies looking into the effects of dietary vinegar in humans or chickens, and most of the time, the results of one study may be refuted by another. What the...
  10. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ sunflower seed hulls

    Hi Morgan B! It is no surprise that your birds love sunflower hulls! As long as treats and snacks are kept to a maximum of 10% of your birds’ total diet, you’re fine letting them enjoy those sunflower hulls! For more information on feeding treats and snacks to your birds, check out a recent...
  11. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ When to worm?

    Great question, ayahlove97! As a rule, you shouldn’t deworm until you have had a fecal plot done on the feces. Your birds may not need deworming, but if they do, you’ll want to know which parasite(s) is involved so that you know the proper medication to use. Indiscriminate use of medications...
  12. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ chickens ate medicated grower feed??

    Hi Rachel! Amprolium is approved for use in laying hen diets with no withdrawal time, so yes, you may eat the eggs.
  13. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ another aninimal protein question.

    Hi Mobi10, At roughly 18-20 weeks of age, laying birds transition from the growth stage of their lives to the production stage. The primary focus for an adult layer (on top of daily maintenance) is egg production. For this reason, inclusion of calcium in the diet is an absolute must to support...
  14. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ should I give my chickens grit mixed in their food?

    She may have. Even under ideal management, most flocks/herds have at least one individual who manages to get into trouble. Too much hard material like scratch and/or too much fibrous material like hay can certainly cause a crop impaction. Grit resides in the gizzard, which is further down the...
  15. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Visceral gout

    Have the hens molted? Did they just shut down this winter? Did you provide extra light during the long winter days? Production may pick up as we move into spring and the days get longer. I would probably offer the grit and oyster shell separately, so they don't build up in the bottom of the...
  16. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ DRY INCUBATING

    I am glad you had good success. It is such a fun event to observe! It would never have worked where I used to live. Sometimes the humidity there was as low as 7%!!
  17. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ should I give my chickens grit mixed in their food?

    Girt is only necessary if your hens are not allowed to free-range and are fed any kind of hard-coated seed or grain. Birds that free-range will naturally eat tiny stones, and confined birds that are eating a commercial pellet or crumble do not need grit because the ingredients in the feed were...
  18. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ How much does a single small call duck need to eat daily?

    He is seven years old now. My husband keeps asking me how long do quail live? Dan is the gregarious one -- he talks a lot and eats bugs from my fingers. Marilyn does all the dirty work -- you ought to see her dismember a big grasshopper!
  19. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ DRY INCUBATING

    Given that humidity requirements are different for eggs from different species and even change for eggs of the same specie as they develop, using a traditional incubator is probably a more reliable way to hatch eggs for most of us.
  20. DrMikelleRoeder

    ⠀ Visceral gout

    Was your rooster young or old? Some of the causes of visceral gout include water deprivation or insufficient water intake (this is the most likely cause), insufficient phosphorus (highly unlikely, given that you are feeding Layena and corn), excessive calcium in the diet prior to maturity (if...
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