New to Chickens--what "supplements" to feed?

[horsepowerhaven]

Has anyone ever added ground flax seed to their chicken feed? I have it for my horses and I could add it to the chicken feed. I could also buy whole flax if this is better. I just happen to have the ground flax already in the barn. This would help in adding healthy Omega fatty acids to the eggs for consumption...

 

[dianer29]

HPH: one tablesppon per gallon in room temp water I keep plastic jugs ready with it mixed so it does not add too much time to chicken chores. The garlicis good as a natural wormer it is put into the brown rice and I kp it in my fridge so I have it good to go as I give it to them warmed up a bit a few times a week.ACV,type it in" search" you will be glad you did.It provides a healthy digestive for them. Watch your calicum offerings as they can do harm in over abundance. If they are young chicks pick up parakeet grit and offer when you feel you have given a food that needs its for their digestion. Countryside Products ,they have a web site, offers an excellent starter food and ,next step foods.No soy and corn is not a main ingredient,the stage of "layer" food ,is advised you do not need additional calicum for this food. I offer organic plain yogurt 1-2 x week.My 2 dogs get it daily.

 

[desertgirl]

First off....

This place is the greatest resource you could ever hope to find! Good folks here.

Agree with other posts-but be careful about too much garlic when they start laying, or your eggs can taste "off". Also-check out the sticky at the top of this post. It has a comprehensive list of chicken treats (not the essentials, but very helpful for building a healthy, well balanced diet). As possumqueen said-lettting them just naturally be chickens seems to be the best thing for them!

As an aside, I also sprinkle DE in the coop in the summer, to protect against mites and such.

Congrats on becomming a chicken person!!

 

[dianer29]

desert girlI forgot to mention that fact about the garlic,perhaps because my girls are not layin yert. Sorry hph and thank you desertgirl1

 

[Tecalli]

What is ACV?

 

[jslason]

Apple Cider Vinegar.

 

[dragonlair]

I feed Flax to my girls, and horses, dogs and goats plus I sprinkle it on my cereal! I buy the whole and grind it fresh for the horses, dogs and myself. The goats and hens get it as seeds, since they have the better digestive tracts. My hens will not eat ground anything, but they will eat the whole seeds.

 

[fiberart57]

While I'm sure there's a debate on the merit of healthy, I think that a few treats like raisins, grapes, lettuce from the store and other organic snacks are mentally beneficial. I got them a bale of very good horse alfalfa and now they're eating the dry leaves. But, it's a real bonding moment for the girls and me when I bring out the raisins. This morning they got left over brown rice and vegetables which they adored. But they'll hold the cat hostage for raisins.

I might need some chocolate.

Mary

 

[chickenmeadow]

Since you feed organic like I do, you may also be interested in a natural & homemade "chicken dust bath" recipe to help them avoid/rid mites & lice. My chickens all love to visit their own kitty litter tray with 4" (bantams) to 6" (standards) of the following (keep the tray out of rain):

NATURAL CHICKEN DUST BATH

1 part Wood ash (from wood stove or wood burn pile)
1 part DE (diatomaceous earth found in garden supply)
1 part sand
1 part road dust (fine dusty dirt)

 

[chickenmeadow]

My chickens enjoy their winter morning mix of: chick scratch or cracked corn (keeps them warmer, use whole oatmeal in summer), ground blk sunflower, ground or chopped veggies, organic feed crumbles, ground alfalfa, ground/dried red peppers (worming), Tblsp of poultry supplement, & enough kefir to slightly moisten. The kefir has milk fat & moistens the mix but does not make it freeze in winter, it's like yogurt but drinkable, make it yourself without heating, make the next batch using some of it as a starter & drink some for your health, you can buy dry refrigerated starter at health food stores or even better buy online kefir grains for starter. The kefir only takes 12-24 hrs to make by setting on the kitchen counter in glass quart jars with starter in. I only give a small bowl of the morning mix, as it should not be their main feed. It's easy; I keep the dry ingredients premixed & just add some kefir, the poultry vitamin/minerals & any veggies just before feeding. You can also feed sprouted wheat.

In the summer, this morning mix can be alternated with water to moisten instead. They also get wedges of watermellon on hot days especially to keep hydrated, along with all of the other garden scraps. My bantam flock is small at about a dozen or so, easy to spoil them with treats.

Oyster shell (have a hen or 2 that go to that first thing in the morning), grit (in case they need it), cracked corn (in the winter) & what ever else you'd like to keep out all of the time; they just take what they need.

Edited to add more info