INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[hogster160]

Sorry...I'm behind again! This kiddo looks like it's walking on it's hock.....

If it is "walking" on the hocks rather than the foot it is often a sign of riboflavin deficiency. If you are feeding medicated feed, the med has the effect of blocking riboflavin from being utilized by the body. Even if you aren't feeding med. feed, the need for riboflavin from a "meat" source (bugs, mice, etc...items that they can catch on their own if they were with a broody on range) are usually lacking.

IF it's a riboflavin deficiency, you can add the "b" vitamins "naturally" by purchasing some clean beef liver and chop it into tiny pieces and feed RAW. Sometimes you will see improvement almost overnight but you have to catch it early!

Even if it isn't riboflavin deficiency, feeding chopped RAW liver, ground meat, etc., it a good way to ensure that they get "b" vitamins from a natural source. Vegetable sources of the "b" vitamins are not as bio-available and much of it is lost. One way to increase the absorption of the b vitamins from raw grains is to soak at least overnight to begin to break down the phytates that inhibit b vitamin absorption. Fermenting the "grain source" feed is even better at breaking down the pytates.

There is a lot of info out there but here's one quote:


So is it ok to feed them the beef liver as say a treat? Mine chicks are 8 and 3 weeks old. I have the liver from my cow that was butchered, forgot to grind it in my burger. So I just wrapped it up and froze it. And I don't eat liver otherwise lol. Hate to see it go to waste.


Thanks,

Deb

 

[Leahs Mom]

Absolutely, Deb! Just chop it small enough that it's appropriate size for the age (like little bugs). It's easier to cut when it's slightly frozen. I always rinse mine off with water after I get done chopping just because it's so sticky and all the little pieces want to stick together.

If you just drop them on the ground like you would scratch, they'll scramble for them.

Be sure you have some grit available for them to use free feed if they don't get outside in the dirt!

 

[Leahs Mom]

BTW...if I had that liver in MY freezer, I'd give them a little every couple of days...even the adults!

 

[hogster160]

Will do thanks. Already have the grit, as they get part of a cabbage head to pick at. They love cabbage and strawberries. I will pull it out and dice it up tomorrow. Then refreeze it diced and keep it in the house freezer for a quick treat. These are our first chicks, so no adults. But now I have something to do with it!

Thanks,

Deb

 

[bwindell]

agreed crafty, we have had kids on bicycles, (being kids) and several people dump pets, (its a farm, so we like extras

NOT!) One man just started walking around my barn because the door was open? I ran him off! I love to have friends visit, but I want to be the one offering the invitations

Good grief! What is with people these days?? No manners and a lot of gaul!

 

[danand]

Simz- they look great. D'uccles are my favorite!!


Id have a fit is I saw some one just wandering around our property! Used to have people ask to fish in our ponds, and if they asked it was ok! But now days with the insurance issues, you just can't say yes to everybody. And our ponds aren't very good anymore anyway. But still......

Leah's mom- I have a chick with head twitching. I did go look at the poly stuff at CVS. It's like 12$!!! So I did pick up some different type of chick vita with electrolyte and mineral. I just started it yesterday. Do you think I should also try the poly stuff and the liver too? Or give it a few days to see?


love all the info on here.... You guys are great!!

 

[MrBobWhite]

God I love poultry!!!

 

[danand]

Sassy chic- is your pic the Frisian? Gorgeous!!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Thank you everyone who replied to my post looking for a Frizzle Roo! I found one! Now we need a name! Lol Any suggestions?

Our new Frizzle Ameraucana roo. Hes just finishing up his moult. Cant wait til he feathers back out! We will be hatching out Frizzle babies!

Ohhh he is so handsome, love his color! like toffee or cinnamon!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Brad - there is another article that talks about the medicated chick feed and how it affects vitamin deficiency with quotes from the Merk Vetrinary Manual. The info about the medicated feed is in the rest of the article.


Quote: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/12/natural-from-start-medicated-chick-feed.html
"Polyneuritis in birds represents the later stages of a thiamine deficiency, probably caused by buildup of the intermediates of carbohydrate metabolism. In the initial stages of deficiency, lethargy and head tremors may be noted. A marked decrease in appetite is also seen in birds fed a thiamine-deficient diet. Poultry are also susceptible to neuromuscular problems, resulting in impaired digestion, general weakness, star-gazing, and frequent convulsions.

"Polyneuritis may be seen in mature birds ~3 wk after they are fed a thiamine-deficient diet. As the deficiency progresses to the legs, wings, and neck, birds may sit on flexed legs and draw back their heads in a star-gazing position. Retraction of the head is due to paralysis of the anterior neck muscles. Soon after this stage, chickens lose the ability to stand or sit upright and topple to the floor, where they may lie with heads still retracted. Thiamine deficiency may also lead to a decrease in body temperature and respiratory rate. Testicular degeneration may be noted, and the heart may show slight atrophy. Birds consuming a thiamine-deficient diet soon show severe anorexia. They lose all interest in feed and will not resume eating unless given thiamine. If a severe deficiency has developed, thiamine must be force-fed or injected to induce eating."

Wish i would have known more about this with the meat birds last year, had 2 of them!