Kelp

[nccatnip]

Does anyone have experience hanging kelp sheets in the coop for salt and am interested in finding some. Any resources for someone out there?

 

[RebelsHope]

Well I have never do this, never even heard of it. I don't know if this would be the right stuff or not but they sell dried sheets of seaweed at the pet store for fish. It maybe too expensive for what you want though.

 

[Chelly]

I think I read something about that on another chicken site.... on keeping chickens healthy.

Interested to see what others say....

 

[devora]

I thought salt was bad for them. Maybe it's for the minerals. ??

 

[nccatnip]

This is where I found the info on kelp
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=13733

 

[silkiechicken]

mmmm Seaweed is ssooo good. Love eating the stuff. Seaweed soup.... seaweed with rice.... hehe

I would think that it's too much salt or the birds won't pay much attention to it.

 

[JacobsRewardFarm]

I've been reading about and am just beginning to try some salt/mineral supplements for all my animals from this company: www.fertrell.com. Endorsed unconditionally by Joel Salatin. The closest distributor is 1.5 hrs. away, but if they're as good as they say, it's worth it.

"Nutribalancer" is the poultry supplement they make. They use kelp in a lot of their stuff.

I'm not connected other than hopefully a happy customer... time will tell.

Cindy T.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
...yes this is my concern also with the kelp sheets (or kelp of any kind except perhaps the type that come in pill form that you buy from the healthfood store)... waaayyyy to much for a chicken in any type of quantity... however if you are feeding your chickens a homemade mix (so noncomercial) it may be useful as a source of salt which in such mixtures where you are not adding a vit/meneral supplement to your mix .... be on the lookout for salt poisoning signs though... (neurological symptoms such as walking backwards or in circles or jerky neck movements and excess thirst)

 

[greyfields]

Kelp Meal is a great supplement for any animal at all. I initially mixed it with feed, but now I just put it in a tray like grit and oyster shell. It costs around $35 for a 50 pound bag from the feed store.

Think about the ocean. It's a huge repository for all the minerals on earth. Kelp is increidbly high in trace minerals which contribute to good overall health of your birds. Another thing to consider is that chickens are omnivores. I know people who give them fish meal since there are certain proteins and/or amino acids which only exist in animals. So your hens on a layer ration, getting all the protein from corn or grain, will never have those nutrients in them - unlike how they would be in nature.

It also is a great source of your Potassium if you make your own organic garden fertilizer.