How do I add more vitamin A & K to diet?

[skooby]

I believe I need to do this for one of my chickens. Right now she gets laying pellets with a little cracked corn thrown in and all the household scraps. She is also running free and wild on our acreage during the day. Since I have never had a problem chicken before this is puzzling for me. Our local feed store is actually a hardware place and they haven't been very helpful there. I am hoping you can tell me what to do for her.

 

[Snakeoil]

What makes you think you need to add this for one chicken and what do you think it is going to do?

 

[moduckman]

Sometimes we tend to over-medicate our birds when it is best to let nature take it's course. There's nothing wrong with adding vitamins when you feel they are confined and not getting enough. Still, one bird should not be a reason to get a lot of medications and supplements.

 

[skooby]

Out of my four girls I have one who has blood spots in her eggs. Not a few spots but many, like ten or more. I posted with questions about the cause and everyone seems to think she needs more vitamins. Cause being blood vessels rupturing in the ovary or oviduct as the yolk passes. I can't help but think this isn't very good for her. This is also listed on http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/1/egg-quality-handbook/28/blood-spots Which was a recommended site from someone here that I found to be very informative.

I don't mind giving supplements but would prefer not medicating her if I don't have to.
If you have other ideas I would very much appreciate them.

 

[redhen]

i think Kale is high in K....

 

[NancyDz]

I'm surprised that free range chickens would have a Vit A deficiency as it comes from Grass and vegetation , also corn and layer feeds. How old is your feed? You may want to buy some new feed that you know is fresh. It could be that where you are getting feed, they don't have a high turnover of feed and it's older. Not sure about K.


Nancy

 

[gritsar]

Dark leafy green vegetables are where you'll find vitamin K. You might try offering some fresh spinach leaves or brocolli to your hens.

 

[NancyDz]

So you ruled out all the other possibilities on that list? Being that it's only one hen, maybe she got into soem kind of fungal toxin while free ranging? I think I would segregate her, monitor her eating and see if it still happens.


Good luck

Nancy