Help Chicken rickets

[Mary Monk]

I am new to owning chickens. We recently decided to make our own feed so we switched from Purina Layer feed to :
Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer, Regular - 10 lb
Chicken Wheat, Animal Feed, Organic - 50 lb
Oat Groats, Organic - 50 lb Organics
Flax Seeds, Organic - 25 lb
Kelp Granules, ASCO Animal (Blue Label), 5 lb
Whole Barley - Animal Feed, Organic - 45 lb
Organics Peas,Yellow Split, Organic - 25 lb
Organics Chia Seeds, Whole, Black, Organic - 5 lb
(free choice, kelp and oyster shells and clean water with apple cider vinegar from a bell waterer changed every other day)

We were getting 6 to 7 eggs a day from 8 chickens which slowed to none over a couple of weeks. I researched this and they say its normal for this to happen when you switch from crumble to whole grains. At the point that the egg productions stopped I began fermenting the feed and grinding up the feed so they have an easier time eating it. The egg production is up to 4 eggs a day now over the last two weeks. But today I noticed one of the hens looking wobbly like her legs were not supporting her. I immediately panicked. I love my chickens and want the best for them. I researched it and saw recommendations of cod liver oil, powdered milk and sardines. We headed to the store immediately.

I need advice in two areas:

ONE...Fertrell..that is vitamins/suppliments correct?...how much are they supposed have per hen? I make their feed every day fresh and their instructions are for large amounts.

TWO: How much cod liver oil individually per hen. I'd like to separate the hen from the others to make sure she is getting enough Vitamin D. If I give her some powdered milk, cod liver oil and sardines all together...is that too much?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You may want to repost in Watering & Feeding forum ... Hope you get the help you need. Why'd you switch your feeding .... Curious. My thought is commercial feed is balanced nutritionally & vitamins, although I did switch from layer to Flock Raiser (higher in protein) with Oyster Shells on the side.

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!

 

[Mary Monk]

You may want to repost in Watering & Feeding forum ... Hope you get the help you need. Why'd you switch your feeding .... Curious. My thought is commercial feed is balanced nutritionally & vitamins, although I did switch from layer to Flock Raiser (higher in protein) with Oyster Shells on the side.

All we have available in my area is Purina. I wanted to give them a heathier diet. I had a bad experience with Purina feed for my rabbits and don't trust it at all. I drive almost two hours away to buy quality rabbit feed and I get my chicken feed shipped in.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! It's very difficult to make a balanced feed at home; I had poultry science and nutrition classes in college, and would never try.
If your birds are malnourished, the fix is to return to a good balanced diet immediately. The ration balancer needs to be very fresh too; it ages out and looses some of the vitamins in the mix.
Did you work with an actual nutritionist to develop this diet? Have you had batches analyzed?
Your obviously sick hen may have another problem entirely; she's weak for some reason.
I feed Flock Raiser, with oyster shell on the side, and have for many years. There must be something out there that you would be willing to buy already mixed, at least I hope so.
Mary

 

[Mary Monk]

Welcome to our FUNomenal community!

FUNomenal...love it!!!

 

[Folly's place]

Purina Flock Raiser is a very good diet! I don't do bunnies, so no idea about them.
Mary

 

[Mary Monk]

Welcome! It's very difficult to make a balanced feed at home; I had poultry science and nutrition classes in college, and would never try.
If your birds are malnourished, the fix is to return to a good balanced diet immediately. The ration balancer needs to be very fresh too; it ages out and looses some of the vitamins in the mix.
Did you work with an actual nutritionist to develop this diet? Have you had batches analyzed?
Your obviously sick hen may have another problem entirely; she's weak for some reason.
I feed Flock Raiser, with oyster shell on the side, and have for many years. There must be something out there that you would be willing to buy already mixed, at least I hope so.
Mary

Analyzed by whom? I don't live in a rural area. all of the local feed stores carry Purina or really expensive organic feed in small bags. We wanted to make our own feed. I use a similar mix to Joel Salatin and Justin Rhodes. I posted the list of grains in my post if you want to read it.

 

[Folly's place]

Here in Michigan, Feed can be sent to Michigan State U. for analysis. I never have done it, because I'm not making my own mixes. Probably your state ag. school offers this service too.
Mary

 

[Kiki]

I am new to owning chickens. We recently decided to make our own feed so we switched from Purina Layer feed to :
Fertrell Poultry Nutri-Balancer, Regular - 10 lb
Chicken Wheat, Animal Feed, Organic - 50 lb
Oat Groats, Organic - 50 lb Organics
Flax Seeds, Organic - 25 lb
Kelp Granules, ASCO Animal (Blue Label), 5 lb
Whole Barley - Animal Feed, Organic - 45 lb
Organics Peas,Yellow Split, Organic - 25 lb
Organics Chia Seeds, Whole, Black, Organic - 5 lb
(free choice, kelp and oyster shells and clean water with apple cider vinegar from a bell waterer changed every other day)

We were getting 6 to 7 eggs a day from 8 chickens which slowed to none over a couple of weeks. I researched this and they say its normal for this to happen when you switch from crumble to whole grains. At the point that the egg productions stopped I began fermenting the feed and grinding up the feed so they have an easier time eating it. The egg production is up to 4 eggs a day now over the last two weeks. But today I noticed one of the hens looking wobbly like her legs were not supporting her. I immediately panicked. I love my chickens and want the best for them. I researched it and saw recommendations of cod liver oil, powdered milk and sardines. We headed to the store immediately.

I need advice in two areas:

ONE...Fertrell..that is vitamins/suppliments correct?...how much are they supposed have per hen? I make their feed every day fresh and their instructions are for large amounts.

TWO: How much cod liver oil individually per hen. I'd like to separate the hen from the others to make sure she is getting enough Vitamin D. If I give her some powdered milk, cod liver oil and sardines all together...is that too much?

Welcome to BYC.
You mention you are mixing it daily.
Exactly how much of each of the above are you mixing together daily?