leafy greens=healthy hatched chooks?

[Rachel'sFlock]

Have been reading up on breeding my own chicks, and have become aware of the notion that leafy greens enhance well-formed chicks. It is said this regimine of greens-eating needs to begin 6 weeks prior to gathering fertile eggs for best results.
Just wondering if this is the same reasoning which dictates women need to have folic acid (best source=leafy, dark green veg), before they conceive,in order to prevent birth defects???
Anybody have any experience with this? My flock gets leafies every day, and have since they were old enough for treats, so I am hoping this will help us, when the time to hatch out our first clutch comes.

Thanks, in advance, as always!
Brightest Blessings!

 

[drpeeps2014]

Many mineral deficiencies cause low hatchability. These minerals are usually found in dark greens. If you are using a good quality feed the vitamins and minerals will be balanced appropriately (if you are feeding the recommended amounts), but if it is lower quality, supplementing greens may be a good idea.

Some important minerals, for example: manganese, iodine, selenium, and others

Here is the information:

http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/toc_206900.htm