How to keep healthy chickens?

[Ridgerunner]

Some people feed their chickens all sorts of things to "improve" their health. Some don't. Some of the things people feed chickens is vinegar in the drinking water, yogurt or other thing that are supposed to help probiotics, special grains or vegetables, drizzle vegetable oil on the feed to give pretty feathers, ferment feed, just a tremendous list, much like what you see people eating for their own health. As long as you don't overdo it, these things won't hurt. The people that use them, whatever them they are using, will tell you how great they are and how much they help, but many people don't do any of those and have healthy chickens. Feel free to use any of them you wish, just do it in moderation. You won't hurt and you might help.

 

[acates]

I am just thankful for BYC! This website is just a wonderful way to learn everything you need to know about raising chickens. In my opinion if your not going to do it right don't do it at all.

 

[Nambroth]

Is yogurt a good probiotic? Also I have herd of water tablets..is that necessary?

Plain yogurt without sugar is an "okay" probiotic, but for the money, it's probably easier to buy a powdered probiotic which can be added to food or water, such as this one: http://www.jefferspet.com/bird-powder/camid/LIV/cp/KK-B8/cn/36031/
Daily offerings are not necessary unless you are facing an active health problem that warrants extra probiotics, but they are fine to give on occasion.
Some feeds already have probiotics in them, it is worthwhile to check the label.

If you want to give plain yogurt as an occasional treat, that's okay too.
Just no antibiotics unless you are experiencing an active health problem that needs antibiotics!

 

[gander007]

Is yogurt a good probiotic? Also I have herd of water tablets..is that necessary?

For healthy chicks yes ...

Explain the water tablets as I use a powder ...

 

[acates]

For healthy chicks yes ...

Explain the water tablets as I use a powder ...

Well I havnt used the tablets yet but I am thinking of doing so. One tablet per one gallon of water they are called HealthyFlock. They are supposed to help with numerous things and are all natural. Its not an antibiotic.

 

[gander007]

Quote:

Yes then now I know what you are talking about and I do try natural first good stuff

 

[Michael Apple]

The best quality supplements will be found among the pigeon supply outfits. I have yet to see supplements in the US that are the quality of Gem Supplements and Natural Granen. Supplements vary in their ingredients, purpose, and use. Some are used specifically during breeding season, some for stress/deficiencies in diet, some for moult, etc. It is always important to know what you are feeding, the environment in which birds live, and which supplements may be necessary. Water/feed supplements are merely a practical way to avoid the research, acquirement of ingredients, and preparation of recipes. If someone has the knowledge and time to do all of that, knock yourself out. One must pay attention to levels of ingredients because even excess of certain nutrients can cause illness such as Hypervitaminosis.

 

[gander007]

casportpony,

Sound like you have quite the operation and I can appreciate a lot of waterers!

If you do reach the point of needing to incorporate a product to address or prevent digestive health/diarrhea problems, our products are, on a per gallon/per bird basis, far and above the best value of any combination of products on the market that come up about 20-25% short of what we provide.

With being free-range, you may be encountering internal parasite challenges. Check out our Zyfend (tm) A product (available by itself or in the Backyard Chicken Health Pack). It is all-natural, specifically designed, tested and proven millions of layers in organic/natural certified flocks.

Use 1 week per month in your water to offset worm related issues with no need to discard eggs!

Thanks for your comments!

BYCHP David, have you written a review about your products so all of us could look up your info and different products you have available as this sounds a little different then other products on the market and it also sounds like a lot of preventive medicine and I could be very well mistaken as I did not much understand every thing about you and your product line when you first became a member and I Greeted you ...

Don't get me wrong I really would like to read more about your product line

Have a poultry weekend BYCHP David

 

[dawg53]

casportpony,

Sound like you have quite the operation and I can appreciate a lot of waterers!

If you do reach the point of needing to incorporate a product to address or prevent digestive health/diarrhea problems, our products are, on a per gallon/per bird basis, far and above the best value of any combination of products on the market that come up about 20-25% short of what we provide.

With being free-range, you may be encountering internal parasite challenges. Check out our Zyfend (tm) A product (available by itself or in the Backyard Chicken Health Pack). It is all-natural, specifically designed, tested and proven millions of layers in organic/natural certified flocks.

Use 1 week per month in your water to offset worm related issues with no need to discard eggs!

Thanks for your comments!

You stated that Zyfend is all natural, specifically designed, tested and proven millions of layers in organic.natural certified flock. Show official test results from an independent source to us. I see nothing in the ingredients that would prevent worms, much less treat worms.

 

[seminolewind]

deleted for dumb question