KELP MEAL....FREE CHOICE OR IN FEED?

[SillyBird]

Hi,
Just curious if people feed the kelp meal to their chickens in their feed or free choice? I've read it shouldn't be more than 1% of their feed. I've fed it free choice and also have sprinkled a tad over their feed. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks.

 

[Folly's place]

Keep you balanced ration as it is: balanced. Any other products should be separate, not included in the base diet. I don't see any advantage to adding additional vitamins and minerals to their diet, so tiny amounts if any. Mary

 

[SillyBird]

Good idea, free choice allows them to eat it or not, rather than 'forcing' them to eat it within their food. If they need it...they'll eat it. Thanks for your thoughts on this. : )

 

[Folly's place]

Still also have oyster shell in another separate dish for them. Mary

 

[aart]

What is the purpose/advantage/goal for feeding kelp meal?
Also, what do you feed as their 'regular' feed?

 

[Folly's place]

x2. Mary

 

[centrarchid]

It is a good source of some vitamins and some minerals. Also may be more economical source in areas like Nova Scotia and the Pacific Northwest. I think they use similar on the west coast of Ireland as well. I would use such if I lived in a costal area where kelp is easy to come by and I could not count in a complete feed formulation.

 

[SillyBird]

Way below is the breakdown / analysis of the Acadian Sea Kelp that I feed to my horses, calves and chickens. It's just loaded with goodness. I used to feed it free choice to my goats and some days they'd go through it like crazy, and some days not...just depends what their internal 'needs' are they say. I find in a bowl by itself the hens do eat it sometimes, and sometimes not...just depends.

I feed Purina Layena Checkers (Laying Complete) to my meat king hen Coconut. It is a pellet.

The other two laying hens (Leghorns) do not like the Layena Checkers. So, for them I have to go to another feed store and I buy them 16% Lay Mash. I have tried to get the laying hens to eat the same as the meat king, but nope...they won't. It's kinda funny really.

So why not put Coconut on the Lay Mash? Well, she was kind of 'choking' it down at times for some reason, so the pelleted food I can dampen and it softens it just a tad and voila...problem solved. AND, you can hide things in the dampened pellet too like fresh garlic, things they may need once and awhile but just won't eat on their own.

Those are just my thoughts on it. I'm certainly no expert.

Oyster shell...separate container for sure. But some of the bigger pieces I find they won't or cannot eat. Does anyone crush theirs up?

And same with grit...some pieces are kinda big.

Kelp breakdown:

Typical Composition
Moisture
Max 13.0%
Crude Protein
Min 4.0%
Crude Fat
Min 2.0%
Crude Fiber
Max 8.0%
Ash
Max 28.0%
Carbohydrates
Min 50.0%
Macronutrients
Calcium (Ca)
Min 1.2%
Magnesium (Mg)
Min 0.8%
Nitrogen (N)
Min 0.9%
Phosphorus (P)
Min 0.1%
Potassium (K)
Min 1.5%
Sodium (Na)
Max 3.3%
Sulfur (S)
Min 2.0%
Micronutrients
Boron (B)
Min 113 ppm
Copper (Cu)
Max 2 ppm
Iodine (I)
Min 300 ppm
Iron (Fe)
Min 150 ppm
Manganese (Mn)
Min 25 ppm
Selenium (Se)
Max 1 ppm
Zinc (Zn)
Min 28 ppm
This product is a 100% natural organic marine algae product. Although certified laboratory analyses are obtained, they may vary slightly from the typical analysis due to naturally occurring fluctuations in the sea plant due to time of year, geographical location, plant life cycle, nutrient availability due to tidal conditions and tide flow. The analysis presented above is based on long-term sampling and statistical analysis and is believed to be accurate and reliable. However, Acadian Seaplants Limited makes no warranty; either expressed or implied, and assumes no liability for this information and the product described herein. This information is not provided as conditions of sale.
ASD.KM.2.2.E.0813

Acadian Seaplants Limited 2013
Other Elements
Aluminum (Al)
Max 187 ppm
Antimony (Sb)
Max 0.9 ppm
Arsenic (As), Total
Max 35 ppm
Arsenic (As), Inorganic
Max 2.0 ppm
Barium
Max 11 ppm
Beryllium (Be)
Max 0.9 ppm
Bismuth (Bi)
Max 1 ppm
Cadmium (Cd)
Max 0.7 ppm
Chromium (Cr)
0.4 -0.9 ppm
Cobalt (Co)
Max 1 ppm
Chloride (Cl)
Max 3.5%
Lead (Pb)
Max 2.0 ppm
Lithium (Li)
Max 1.5 ppm
Mercury (Hg)
Max 0.5 ppm
Molybdenum (Mo)
Max 1.2 ppm
Nickel (Ni)
Max 2 ppm
Silicon (Si)
Max 180 ppm
Silver (Ag)
Max 0.5 ppm
Thallium (Tl)
Max 0.5
Tin (Sn)
Max 5 ppm
Titanium (Ti)
Max 10 ppm
Vanadium (V)
Max 3 ppm