Is Flax Seed safe to mix in with scratch?

[emartin]

Is it safe when the chickens start laying to feed them flax seed occassionally in addition to their Feed (which contains flax seed as a Omega3 source)? I was wondering since a local store sells large amounts of it and I liked the idea of giving the chickens an extra omega-3 boost despite that we have them free range most of the time.

Would too much Omega 3 be bad for the chickens health?

~Ed

 

[PurpleChicken]

That's a GREAT thing to do. Many folks will supplement their birds diet
with flax seeds. There is debate on whether or not it actually works
but the chickens like it so how bad can it be.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

remembering that the chickens get omega 3 from eating the grass
so I would think in limitations the added flax

doesn't flax seed need to be cracked for their bodies to absorb the omega 3 oils?

I got this info from


flax seed for chickens - whole or ground?
... read various studies about feeding flaxseed to chickens and how it will increase ... RE: flax seed for chickens - whole or ground? ...forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/farmlife/msg0816411030304.html?7 - Cached

Not sure, but I read an interesting article recently about flaxseed... Flaxseed releases cyanide when soaked. It also says its released when ground--but if you don't grind, they just pass through... It says it would take 11 lbs of flaxseed soaked in water for 3 hrs to kill a horse. It does say that ground flaxseed has the most benefit... and that boiling it for 10 minutes will destroy the glycosidase enzyme so no cyanide can be produced.


I have read that fresh grass is rich in omega-3, that's why beef and dairy products from grass-fed cows are high in omega-3's.
Wouldn't this also apply to eggs from 'grass-fed' chickens? Could that mean there is little or no benefit to feeding flax seed to free-range chickens?

just some thoughts
interesting how grass fed chickens do have the omega 3 in the eggs
any questions email me

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
What about feeding it in the winter-when grass and greens are obviously scarce. I feed a product called Omega Horseshine for my horses which contains ground flax, it is done in a specific way to get the most benefit from it. My horses love it and the results speak for themselves! They also carry a product called the Ultra Egg and while pricey, I believe it would definitely benefit my chicks/chickens. They are also working on smaller bags. Here's the link, check it out for yourselves:

http://www.omegafields.com/productD...laying_hens_omega3_egg_production_ground_flax

 

[Blondie]

I threw some leftover flax seed to my chickens and they turned their beaks up and walked away...........