Normal vent?

[BigBlueHen53]

they get a few scoops of black fly larvae daily & shrimp shells whenever we shrimp for dinner lol

Depends what you mean by a few scoops. How big is the scoop? How many chickens? Generally, I understand "extras" should not exceed 10% of their diet, or (if I recall correctly) about 1 Tbsp per chicken per day. Don't quote me though. @U_Stormcrow is one of our feed experts. And I don't eat shrimp so I can't speak to that at all. (I just tagged Storm so let's see what he says!)

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Depends what you mean by a few scoops. How big is the scoop? How many chickens? Generally, I understand "extras" should not exceed 10% of their diet, or (if I recall correctly) about 1 Tbsp per chicken per day. Don't quote me though. @U_Stormcrow is one of our feed experts. And I don't eat shrimp so I can't speak to that at all. (I just tagged Storm so let's see what he says!)

There is the potential for a LOT of fat in those mealworms - and whatever they are being fed will then concentrate in your chickens (I mention because what mealworms are fed on is less well regulated than most other feed products, and mealworms generally are produced overseas. No guarantees, of course - there probably are Chinese produced meal worms of greater quality than US made mealworms - there's just no way of telling [with either]).

Shrimp shells are fine. Some protein, some minerals, some proteins they can't use. As long as they aren't heavily seasoned. Otherwise salt becomes a concern. I throw (boiled) shrimp shells to my birds about once every 10 days/2 weeks. They are VERY popular. We don't eat shrimp more often than that, so they don't get them more often than that.

the "10% rule by weight" (of thumb) arises because its relatively easy to knock a feed's nutritional value out of whack with nutritionally dense treats (like dried mealworms, sunflower seeds and similar) Typically relatively high protein, very high fat sources. Mostly water sources (cukes, watermelon, even summer squash as examples) are negligible risk because they have almost no nutritional value as nutrient sparse sources.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

As to the other question??? What I don't know about poultry illness and injury would fill books, and does. I look to BYC's experts like @Eggcessive above when I have questions on those subjects.

I will, however, off that you can keep your birds on that grower feed all their lives if you want, as long as they have a supplemental calcium source (like oyster shell). Your feed isn't a problem.

Anecdotally, and based on my own flock, that bird's vent looks fine.

New layers - particularly "production layer" breeds - have a high rate of "error" as they get started laying and their bodies work out any kinks in their plumbing/adjust to new nutritional and metabolic needs. According to sum sources, the rate of errors (fairy eggs, lash eggs, double yolks, etc) can average as high as 1:10 in the first couple months of lay, dropping to about 1:100 as they mature.

Nothing I've seen in your post would have me panicked. I would, however, ensure there is a supplemental calcium source available at all times.

Fortune favor you in your chicken keeping journey.

 

[Nickpicsss]

As to the other question??? What I don't know about poultry illness and injury would fill books, and does. I look to BYC's experts like @Eggcessive above when I have questions on those subjects.

I will, however, off that you can keep your birds on that grower feed all their lives if you want, as long as they have a supplemental calcium source (like oyster shell). Your feed isn't a problem.

Anecdotally, and based on my own flock, that bird's vent looks fine.

New layers - particularly "production layer" breeds - have a high rate of "error" as they get started laying and their bodies work out any kinks in their plumbing/adjust to new nutritional and metabolic needs. According to sum sources, the rate of errors (fairy eggs, lash eggs, double yolks, etc) can average as high as 1:10 in the first couple months of lay, dropping to about 1:100 as they mature.

Nothing I've seen in your post would have me panicked. I would, however, ensure there is a supplemental calcium source available at all times.

Fortune favor you in your chicken keeping journey.

Thank you SO much for you very detailed reply. I love learning proper information and you gave all the answers to additional questions I would have! Haha

I ordered the Grubbly Farms hometown harvest (so harvested in USA) black fly larvae. They will get a scoop (about 1 cup worth - I will measure tmrw) scattered about every other day. They don’t eat them all either, there’s always some left over that I’m sure the other birds enjoy as I do see wild birds fly into our free range area. The shrimp peels are either raw or cooked depending on how we are preparing our food. But if there’s seasonings, we will rinse off the cooked ones (raw always has nothing on them). But again, that is maybe MAX 1-2 times a month since we also don’t eat shrimp that often because of the cost lol Lastly, I have attached pictures of the nutrition labels from the feeds I have available (grower & layer - both locally sourced). They do have free access to oyster shells & grit always in their run that I can see they are eating!

I do plan on buying scratch (from the same place I get my feed) and mixing the black fly larvae in with that to make them last a bit longer. How much would you suggest per chicken for a mix of scratch & the fly larvae? And how often would you suggest? I typically only use it when I need to get them back in their run, but most days they all gather in the coop before I get out there. My dang rooster also attacked me when feeding the worms from the cup, but I’m going to make a separate post about him lol

My hens vent seems to have gone back to normal- I’m still get small/bumpy eggs so I know a couple more hens are laying. I set up a camera to see who it is each time to keep track for now until they become more consitent!

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I am not a fan of either scratch or BSFL "supplementation". Spend the money on good feed, instead - and when they need enrichment, I just throw the food. They will search out the thrown feed with the same gusto they attack other treats, in my experience.