Molasses in feed?

[Kev]

Is molasses in chicken feed a common thing? Good or bad thing to have in the feed? The feed mill seems to have quite suddenly changed their 16% layer forumla- had to get new feed today and the layer has a strong molasses smell.. sure enough it has cane molasses.

Not thrilled about this sudden change... want to see if there's any feedback before going back to see if they will take the feed back for something else.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Just a knee jerk response, but it may have, may have been mis-bagged or mis-labeled. Sounds more like a sweet feed for mammals?

 

[Kev]

I had the same knee jerk response at the smell- got wrong bag. However the tag says 16% chicken layer, ingredients and lists cane molasses.....

 

[Fancychooklady]

There is a feed available here in Australia that has molasses in it. Mine hate it. Molasses has a mild laxative effect on chickens so I'd switch brands if I were you.

 

[Fred's Hens]

It is "acceptable" in feed. Google molasses poultry feed and a couple of good, brief articles pop up in the first 10 listings.

From what I read, it increases water intake and will make litter more damp as the stool seems to contain more moisture. If the mill gets the molasses at a price point, they include it, but it is 50% sucrose (sugar).

I dunno, Kev.

 

[Kev]

That's it, I'm going back to feed store tomorrow... tricky parts are will they take back already opened bags and majority of the locally available feed comes from the same miller. Usually I'd not care so much but feed is so expensive those days- these were 15.75 per bag.

Really appreciate the feedback.

 

[Fancychooklady]

A lot of horse people add it to the water in winter to entice horses to drink more. I've always avoided it as anything that raises the blood sugar level is likely to make them more attractive to biting, sucking insects. Just recently the feed stores here introduced feed with herbs added, at first mine loved it now they turn their beaks up to it. So back to plain old mixed grain and micro pellets.

 

[Kev]

Interesting. The chickens don't need to drink any more they do already.. and wet poop is extremely attractive to flies, that's not good at all and the reason I don't have ducks or geese anymore...

 

[Fancychooklady]

The feed stores add a little salt here and a little sugar there, all in an attempt to ' corner the market '. Last thing I need is a bunch of lazy fat chickens laying around , I've got teenagers that fit that bill. Lol, just kidding.

 

[Kev]

The feed stores add a little salt here and a little sugar there, all in an attempt to ' corner the market '. Last thing I need is a bunch of lazy fat chickens laying around , I've got teenagers that fit that bill. Lol, just kidding.

Feed them molasses! In no time they will be up and running around.. to the toilets...!