Do you add supplements and or electrolytes?

[Chicken mundoo]

Hi, I give my girls AHE which is a mix of Apple cider vinegar, garlic, seaweed and honey, they love it! The website address for more info is www.stockmansfriend.co.nz

 

[Cknldy]

I give 'save-a-chick' vitamins and electrolytes packets to all new chicks for the first few weeks. During the summer I will also give it to adults. Just mix it in their water and it looks like gatorade. I tried the livestock packs before I knew about save-a-chick and had to call a vet to help figure out the dose for less than a ton of feed! My very first hatchery chicks had started walking on their hocks, turned out to be a vitamin deficiency. I swear by save-a- chick and recommend it.

 

[dotdotdot]

S-Carb or Sodium Sesquicarbonate. Helps maintain electrolyte balance and improve eggshell quality as well.

Not sure how easy the stuff is to get. I run a feed mill for broilers, so I just take home the samples we don't keep.

 

[tammyfarms]

I use Sav A Chick for all babies. For the adults I have tried the multi-use cattle, pig, chicken vitamin that comes in the yellow packets and the vitamins you can buy from McMurrays. The multi-use packets seem to work just as well and are significantly cheaper. I use them about once a week in the winter and several times a week when it gets hot in the summer. It is not unusual here for the temps to be in the high 90's and over for weeks at a time. Even with shade cloth and shade, I think they do better with electrolites.

 

[CluckCluck18]

I always give ACV, the organic one that contains the mother but just learned that giving in the heat can reduce calcium absorption. Yikes.
I live in central Florida and it is Africa hot here already...we just had a tropical storm and the humidity is off the charts! I just lost an 8 month old Penedescenca to heatstroke a few days ago.
I was surprised because they are supposed to be very heat tolerant.
I use Poultry Drench, it's an electrolyte solution that you can add to the water. I think most feed places have it....I get mine from Amazon. I usually don't need it this early.....the summer is long and oppressive here, but after losing my pullet I started it now.
I read on this site that in a pinch you could use jello water which I thought was a good idea and you can also dump a bunch of dried mealworms in some water and they go nuts for those and drink more water by accident.
Fruits and veggies with high water content are good too.....watermelon, iceberg lettuce, cucumbers.
I wanted to say thanks to all for the great info, advice and fellowship on this site. I always learn something helpful and important on here.....like no ACV in the heat!

 

[humphrey farms]

I don't give extra supplements or electrolytes. A good feed should have all a healthily chicken needs. I work on preventions for heat problems, shade, ventilation and plenty of water. Of course my climate may be different then yours.

x2

 

[Wyandotte103]

I live up where it gets VERY HOT in the summer and VERY COLD in the winter. I give my chickens ACV all the time and when someone seems to have problems I use som Electrolux until it clears up. My chickens don't lay yet, though, and have a plastic water, so once they start laying, I will follow the former advice. Thanks

 

[chickery-do]

I save a few plastic container that fit into their waterier. I freeze them, then slip it into their waterier and it last longer than ice cubes. When I check on them after a few hours or when I think the block has melted, I go out w/ a new block of ice and replace it and refreeze the older one after I wash it. I also try to put it in the shade.

 

[smedly9921]

I provide electrolytes in the water, and apple cyder vinegar. This helps with any dehydration issues and also keep algae from forming in the water. I make sure the chickens have access to clam shell for extra calcium they only take it if they need it. Of course i only feed them good feed and let them free range but the extras don't hurt anything and its not expensive. You can get a gallon of apple cyder vinegar from a bulk food store for 3.50 and it lasts a long time.

 

[jak2002003]

I was wondering if you add supplements and or electrolytes to your poultry's feed or water. If so when, why and what kind?

With Summer comming I have heard a lot of people talking about electrolytes and it got me wondering how people decide what to add and when to add it. I'd love to hear from you guys about what you do to keep your flock healthy and happy!

I have never added any extra supplements or electrolytes etc for my birds.

Never had any chicks get sick or die (apart from a hen got attacked by a dog).

BUT I do give a great diet to them, with grit, oyster shell and vegetables, mealworms and they all free range every day.