Is this Ok to do? Or will it harm the chickens

[Churkenduse]

I just read somewhere that they cannot feel the heat when they eat it but it does have an adverse affect on their system. They can get inflamed.

Now I for one am not going to risk them getting an inflamation and need medical attention, is that worth getting your eggs a few weeks early?

I will look for the report but it was hard to find in the first place.

Crazy4GameCocks remember people use that when it is very cold to warm them up. In the nice weather that is coming you do not need that.

 

[newnanchic]

I have never heard of it hurting Chickens. We give it to ours about 1 time a month in the winter . I have heard of alot of other people that do it too. Sometimes the "old wives tales" are the best known secrets. It is a cheap way to keep them warm and "kick start" their laying again...

 

[BaronRenfrew]

Another idea is to mix cod liver oil in the feed. It's VERY potent for vitamin D so drizzle it lightly on feed. I mixed it in a drum and shoveled it around. Halibut liver oil is 4 times as potent as the cod liver oil.

I had ringneck pheasants lay in February (instead of May).

I did this 20 years ago so I don't know if its available by the jug and what it costs.

 

[seafood]

What is meant by "spring hens"?

When exactly do you use this method?

 

[Ace_king_brahma]

I've heard of using cayenne before but not with rice or for laying hens. I always heard gamecock owners use it on growing roosters. I've seen it also advertised in The Gamecock as an appetite stimulate. I tried it on some broilers I was raising and they ate like crazy even more than they had before adding it. They got huge fast and everyone in my ag class wanted to know what I was doing different than them. I just kept it to myself though.

I think they meant by spring hens being pullets. I might try this when my girls get almost ready to lay.

 

[d.k]

* I gave cayenne to Chook once-- she laid faster-- but the shells seemed to me a bit thinner, too, so I didnt continue. . She get cod liver oil too but only once a week. . TOO MUCH Vit 'A' will cause diarrhea & liver enlargement.

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
Seems like I've heard of this somewhere before...

 

[ginasmarans]

I use the crushed red pepper and just sprinkle it on top of the feed. They love it! It does seem to help them lay better. I think it may be a natural parasite control.

 

[Brian]

If you feed them this, you will get Huevos Rancheros!

 

[d.k]

*Using it as an appetite booster is interesting to me as that could be useful at times in some of the emergency threads I've seen. Dlhunicorn tells me the parasite control angle has not born out in tests. . . .I use cayenne (capsacium) patches for back pain & joint aches, sinus headaches & in soups for cold congestion sometimes. .and I've made cayenne oil or salve for my step-dad's arthritic joints, etc. . COURSE YOU GOT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO RUB YOUR EYES OR SOMETHING!!!!