gurgling cough, leg paralysis.... UPDATE! CAUSE Found!

[hen-thusiast]

This whole thread is incredibly insightful, thank you for sharing what you went through with all of us. This is a great reminder about how feed choices can influence a chicken's well being.

I'm sorry for both of your losses Mrs. Puff and huntersmoon.

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Thank you for this valuable information!!

 

[PandoraTaylor]

Sorry you lost your girl....

I feed straight "flock raiser" feed with grit and oystershell free choice,
as I read somewhere that "layer" was not good for chicks or roosters.

As I don't feed separate (rooster is always with the hens), it seemed smarter to just provide what they need free-choice than to make them eat something that might hurt them.


Edited for spelling/typing errors

 

[huntersmoon]

Thanks - and I am so glad to have read the tips in this thread about not feeding layer feed. My feed is Organic Pride which is only 16% protein and 4% calcium (but only 0.5% phosphorus which may be too low) - but I'd rather feed good food that is not pellets and so I will make some dietary changes.

Shannon

 

[fiberart57]

Let me add my voice to those thanking the OP and other contributors for this thread. I've read of warnings about excess calcium too early but this is my first verified account that it's damaging. I'm glad I've decided to go with Flock Raiser and oyster shell and let the girls decide for themselves how much calcium they need.

Thanks again, Mary