Flax seeds??

[Courtney R]

If they eat em and it duznt hurt the chickens, i say Yes.

 

[kagross]

Free range chickens that eat plenty of insects will have more EPA/DHA (Omega 3) than chickens fed flax seed. Flax (linseed) contains the precursor to EPA/DHA in the form of ALA and LA (linoleic acids), which must be converted into EPA/DHA in the chicken's body (same thing happens in humans). The problem is, the conversion rate is very low, under 10% usually, so more flax must be given to get the same level of O3 fats. If they get enough insects, especially crickets and grasshoppers (any leaf eating bug, really), the bug has already converted the plant's LA/ALA into EPA/DHA, so the chicken doesn't have to convert it. Fish oil is good (no conversion), I just wouldn't know how to deliver it to the chicken (feed them sardines!). And you might need to consider cost as well. At any rate, just let chickens be chickens, and let them eat lots of bugs!

 

[RyeRanch]

I have also heard that duckweed is a very good source of omega 3s that chickens will readily eat. I know it can be grown pretty easily in an aquarium or pond. This probably is not practical at this time of year, but might be fun in the spring.

 

[kagross]

Not sure about duckweed, but animal sources of omega 3's are always better than plant sources. Hogweed/pigweed/purslane are considered the highest plant source of O3's, and it grows in your lawn (pigweed anyway).

 

[David A]

I feed my birds a variety, they get the natural layer crumbles, natural scratch grains and wild bird seed. Which brings me to the Omega 3 found in Flax Seed. If you feed the chooks some wild bird seed, (Sunflower Seed, Wheat, Corn, Oats, Milo and Millet). There is allot of Omega 3 for them, and they love it!
For every cup of bird seed, millet has about .05 grams of Omega 3, for Oats about 3781 Mg and for Milo about 2970 Mg of Omega 3. And did I mention they love their bird seed?

 

[Hillschicks]

We just did a food run... Ended up skipping the flax seed... Oats, cracked corn, sunflower seeds, oyster shells... And wild birdseed strewn about the loose hay in the barn daily to give them something to dig for now that winter has set in outside (michigan) ... The origional question was is there a reason not to do the flax seed... After reading all this information (thank you!!) We decided it wasnt worth the risk for the minimal payoff ...our chickens never had any, they wont miss it

 

[Courtney R]

I feed my chickens a variety of food. I give them weeds and grass, ugs, and different leftovers that r good for them to eat.

 

[Hillschicks]

Absolutely... My mother in law even makes them a salad every once in a while lol... We had grass seed and a large flower pot sitting around so we have started growing things for them for winter

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

I love flax seeds. In fact, I eat a couple spoon fulls of them a day if I can. They are very good for you...and your chickens. ; ) If you can afford to feed them to your 'babies', I would go for it!

~ Aspen

 

[Silkie Chicken]

So everyone there is still con and pro answers here and i am not sure if i should feed flax seed to them and would it be ok to i have silkie.