Rock Dust

[mjllbeemer]

Hi, we're new to Back Yard Chickens, but wow! What a great site! We're doing the best we can to give our recently acquired RIR hens great nutrition, so any suggestions are helpful. We just got them, so they're a bit restricted right now until we're all settled in. We have alfalfa, selected kitchen scraps, oats, egg layer, oyster shell, grit, linseed meal, and have started fermented mash.

But our specific question is about rock dust - the kind you would put on the garden for extra minerals. We haven't found enough on the internet to make an educated decision about it. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! What are you looking at doing with the rock dust, think it is generally just used for soil remineralization, not livestock as such? There are different kinds, if your soil needs help, most Cooperative extension service offices can or know where you can get your soil tested for ph and nutrient levels, so you can figure out what type dust is best suited for what you need.

 

[Michael OShay]

Welcome to BYC. Glad you decided join to our flock. Chickens ingest all kinds of dust and dirt and the minerals in rock dust that is used in the mineral restoration of your soil will not be harmful to them. There is a good article on this at http://www.underwoodgardens.com/soil-building/mineral-restoration-of-your-garden-soil/. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to the flock

 

[mjllbeemer]

Thanks, everyone! We have used the rock dust for the garden, but we were wondering what is the best way to get trace minerals to the chickens?

 

[Michael OShay]

Thanks, everyone! We have used the rock dust for the garden, but we were wondering what is the best way to get trace minerals to the chickens?

You're welcome. If you are using commercially prepared feeds, these are specially formulated to make certain that your chickens get all of the essential minerals they need in their diet. The trick is to make sure you feed them the correct feed at the correct age. There is a good article at http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/11/feeding-chickens-at-different-ages.html on what to feed chickens at different ages.

 

[Mountain Peeps]

Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

X2 on @Michael OShay 's advice.