Are theses probiotics good?

[Chicken love to infinity]

Henlo fellow chicken lovers! I was thinking of giving my chickens extra probiotics for the winter. I tried ACV but they hate it. I found this on Amazon and was wondering if it makes a difference? TIA

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Henlo!

Depending on the feed you use, it likely already contains pre- and probiotcs, so adding more wouldn't really provide additional benefit (just additional cost).

Also ACV has no digestive benefit as the digestive acids in a chicken's stomach are actually MORE acidic than the ACV. (Vinegar also inhibits the absorption of calcium).

The best thing you can do is provide clean, fresh water, in clean containers (and in the winter, make sure their water isn't freezing).

ETA: If the feed you use does NOT contain pre- and probiotics then adding it can be beneficial.

 

[Chicken love to infinity]

Henlo!

Depending on the feed you use, it likely already contains pre- and probiotcs, so adding more wouldn't really provide additional benefit (just additional cost).

Also ACV has no digestive benefit as the digestive acids in a chicken's stomach are actually MORE acidic than the ACV. (Vinegar also inhibits the absorption of calcium).

The best thing you can do is provide clean, fresh water, in clean containers (and in the winter, make sure their water isn't freezing).

ETA: If the feed you use does NOT contain pre- and probiotics then adding it can be beneficial.

Thanks, I will check the ingredients in mine to make sure.

 

[Chicken love to infinity]

Here is a list of ingredients. I know it's not the highest quality feed, but it's soy-free and non-GMO, and it's all we can afford right now + they don't mind and love it! I'm unsure if it has probiotics though.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

It looks like it does contain a couple of probiotic ingredients (the things that say "fermentation extract")...

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract is a "probiotic yeast", trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract is a prebiotic and pichia pastoris fermentation extract is said to have "probiotc effects".

Those are the only things that stand out to me as pre- and/or probiotc ingredients. I'm not a feed expert by any means and if you have concerns about digestive health, it certainly wouldn't *hurt* to use a probiotic supplement (I would suggest having untreated water as well). Or perhaps you might take the extra $$ spent on a supplement and look for a feed that includes more probiotic ingredients. Nutrena Naturewise All Flock feed has at least 6 pre- / probiotic ingredients. It's about $23 for 40lbs at TSC...

 

[Chicken love to infinity]

It looks like it does contain a couple of probiotic ingredients (the things that say "fermentation extract")...

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract is a "probiotic yeast", trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract is a prebiotic and pichia pastoris fermentation extract is said to have "probiotc effects".

Those are the only things that stand out to me as pre- and/or probiotc ingredients. I'm not a feed expert by any means and if you have concerns about digestive health, it certainly wouldn't *hurt* to use a probiotic supplement (I would suggest having untreated water as well). Or perhaps you might take the extra $$ spent on a supplement and look for a feed that includes more probiotic ingredients. Nutrena Naturewise All Flock feed has at least 6 pre- / probiotic ingredients. It's about $23 for 40lbs at TSC...

Thanks so much!!! I will DEFINITELY look into that!

 

[PaperChicken]

Vinegar also inhibits the absorption of calcium

Where does this info come from?

What I'm seeing is the acid breaks down calcium carbonate into calcium and then it is more easily absorbed, in humans anyways.

 

[ChickyCh00k]

Where does this info come from?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

I might have missed it but you said "for the winter," is there a reason? If it's just wanting to be a good caretaker and make sure they are healthy as can be, I can tell you that years ago I tried all sorts of things just wanting to make sure my chicken's were getting the best nutrition and in the best health they could possibly be in. But fast forward to today it's been 20years and just yesterday I was shocked at how healthy they look, all different ages with nice red combs and shiny feathers, and how fast they recovered from Molting. And I don't have a diet "trick." I just give them fresh water, fresh layer crumble, oyster shell feeder, some free range time and I toss small amounts of scratch and food scraps max twice / a week. I will give them more protein treats like an occasional can of tuna or handful of puppy kibble in winter but I firmly believe they're getting the nutrition they need from Commercial feed. So far so good........

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

It looks like it does contain a couple of probiotic ingredients (the things that say "fermentation extract")...

Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation extract is a "probiotic yeast", trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract is a prebiotic and pichia pastoris fermentation extract is said to have "probiotc effects".

Those are the only things that stand out to me as pre- and/or probiotc ingredients. I'm not a feed expert by any means and if you have concerns about digestive health, it certainly wouldn't *hurt* to use a probiotic supplement (I would suggest having untreated water as well). Or perhaps you might take the extra $$ spent on a supplement and look for a feed that includes more probiotic ingredients. Nutrena Naturewise All Flock feed has at least 6 pre- / probiotic ingredients. It's about $23 for 40lbs at TSC...

NO. The Sacchromyces may have PREbiotic effects. The Tricoderma is a source of a xylanase enzyme, not probiotic. The Pichia is a source of the Phytase enzyme to improve Phosphorus digestibility. There is not a source of true probiotics in that feed ingredient list.