Adopted hens came with this

[happyhencamper]

I have never used any supplements as their feed has all that they need. Not sure if I should toss this or use it. The directions say you micc small amounts with their food it isn’t fed directly

 

[Tonyroo]

You don't have to use it just because it's there. You know the health of your birds and your confident of there feed. Go with common sense.

Always check the mfg date of any feed or supplements.

 

[NestingMillenial]

Maybe use it as a treat? (like mixing it with some of the scratch if you give that, or sprinkling it on some fresh scraps if that's a powder, etc - I wouldn't necessary add it to their actual diet, but as a treat I am sure it can't hurt them)

 

[Ridgerunner]

That's not the type of stuff I'd buy either. $17 for 5 pounds. What a moneymaker.

I did not try too hard but had problems coming up with a photo of the back of the bag in a scale to read details. It has 18% protein. Whoop tee doo. In the tiny amounts they suggest feeding that is irrelevant.

It dyes egg yolks dark yellow, probably includes marigold petals. Those are commonluy used for that. That's dye, no added nutritional values. Some of us like darker yellow yolks but to me that is just cosmetic.

It adds microbials. Some people like to add probiotics to their daily diet or to their chickens' diets. I don't bother, I figure the chickens and I already have what microbiotics we need unless we just had a round or antibiotics. As long as the stuff is fresh enough the microbials should still be there and active. Are they actually helpful? Enough people believe so to make it a profitable industry.

It adds vitamins and minerals. Does it add any vitamins and minerals your chickens are actually short of? Freshness may affect the vitamins, shouldn't minerals. At their recommended rates of one teaspoon to one tablespoon per chicken per day (if I read that right) I certainly do not believe it will add enough to harm them.

I would not buy anything like that. If it were gifted to me I'd probably use it in those recommended rates or less. I don't think it would do any harm and might help a little. At the least (and most likely) I'd put it in my compost pile. I would not waste it.

 

[aart]

I did not try too hard but had problems coming up with a photo of the back of the bag in a scale to read details.

Curious to see this too.

 

[happyhencamper]

That's not the type of stuff I'd buy either. $17 for 5 pounds. What a moneymaker.

I did not try too hard but had problems coming up with a photo of the back of the bag in a scale to read details. It has 18% protein. Whoop tee doo. In the tiny amounts they suggest feeding that is irrelevant.

It dyes egg yolks dark yellow, probably includes marigold petals. Those are commonluy used for that. That's dye, no added nutritional values. Some of us like darker yellow yolks but to me that is just cosmetic.

It adds microbials. Some people like to add probiotics to their daily diet or to their chickens' diets. I don't bother, I figure the chickens and I already have what microbiotics we need unless we just had a round or antibiotics. As long as the stuff is fresh enough the microbials should still be there and active. Are they actually helpful? Enough people believe so to make it a profitable industry.

It adds vitamins and minerals. Does it add any vitamins and minerals your chickens are actually short of? Freshness may affect the vitamins, shouldn't minerals. At their recommended rates of one teaspoon to one tablespoon per chicken per day (if I read that right) I certainly do not believe it will add enough to harm them.

I would not buy anything like that. If it were gifted to me I'd probably use it in those recommended rates or less. I don't think it would do any harm and might help a little. At the least (and most likely) I'd put it in my compost pile. I would not waste it.

Thank you I am not going to use it. But I don’t have a compost anymore because I got rats. I’m just going to throw it away. I always appreciate everyone’s responses I don’t know what I do without this forum

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

Thank you I am not going to use it. But I don’t have a compost anymore because I got rats. I’m just going to throw it away. I always appreciate everyone’s responses I don’t know what I do without this forum

Unless it's moldy or way past the production date, why throw it away instead of using it? If that was given to me, I would definitely feed it to my flocks.

 

[happyhencamper]

Unless it's moldy or way past the production date, why throw it away instead of using it? If that was given to me, I would definitely feed it to my flocks.

Seems like a lot to worry about mixing it etc. I will look at directions again. My girls lay bright orange yolks without it. But I will check it out again thanks for the input.