Salt water block for chickens

[annasophiabee]

Can I crush a salt water block a put small portions of it in the chicken waterer? They keep getting into the horse barn and are pecking at the block! I wonder if I gave them small quantities of it I could actually get them to stop trying to eat the block. I buy the Sturdy Steed candy apple block. Thank you.

 

[Peepsi]

Don't put salt in their water, especially in the summer.
Chickens do need salt, but generally, they get enough of it with their feed (unless they're not being fed the right things!)

You can always offer some of the block crushed up in a hopper "free choice" especially for the chickens. However, you'll need to put the horse block somewhere where the chickens can't reach it, or else they'll keep pecking at it, now that they're used to it.

 

[NatJ]

Don't put salt in the chickens' usual water source--they need plenty of fresh water.

Putting out a separate container of salty water should be fine; then they could choose which one (maybe put them side-by-side, so the silly birds don't forget the plain water is still a choice!)

Peepsi's idea of putting some, broken up but dry, in a container for the chickens sounds good too.

 

[Cryss]

There is no need for a salt block or adding salt to their diet. They will get all the salt they need in their food especially if you feed them kitchen scraps. Too much salt can be dangerous because their bodies have no way to store it. Horses and cows use salt blocks but not chickens.

 

[NatJ]

There is no need for a salt block or adding salt to their diet. They will get all the salt they need in their food especially if you feed them kitchen scraps. Too much salt can be dangerous because their bodies have no way to store it. Horses and cows use salt blocks but not chickens.

Why do we trust horses and cows to eat the right amount of salt, but we don't trust chickens to do the same? I agree the chickens should not NEED the salt, but they apparently do want it (maybe they want one of the minerals in the block instead?)

I think table food is especially dangerous because the salt is in something appetizing--they'll eat the egg, cookie, bread, cheese, or whatever it is, even if it is too salty. The salt/mineral block shouldn't be appetizing enough to cause that behavior!

 

[Kusanar]

Why do we trust horses and cows to eat the right amount of salt, but we don't trust chickens to do the same? I agree the chickens should not NEED the salt, but they apparently do want it (maybe they want one of the minerals in the block instead?)

I think table food is especially dangerous because the salt is in something appetizing--they'll eat the egg, cookie, bread, cheese, or whatever it is, even if it is too salty. The salt/mineral block shouldn't be appetizing enough to cause that behavior!

Except that the OP stated that they are feeding "Sturdy Steed candy apple block" which is a sweet, flavored block, not just salt and minerals. I have tasted those flavored blocks and while salty, the flavor comes through pretty strong. I would put that flavored block in the same category as table food.

 

[aart]

but we don't trust chickens to do the same?

First thought...chickens will eat copious amounts of styrofoam.

 

[Chercher72]

I wouldn't personally feed my girls additional salt. I do give table scraps and have for 38+ years and have had NO issues due to salt. They do eat odd things like Styrofoam and plastic but they usually pass them without incident. So my job is to keep the things away from them that they shouldn't eat. They probably like the sweeter taste of the block. As long as they aren't eating a lot of it daily and it's the only thing they are eating I personally wouldn't worry about it. I wouldn't recommend it but I wouldn't over worry about it either. Hope this helps.

 

[NatJ]

Kusanar and aart, those are both good points that I didn't think of.
By now, I guess we've given the OP plenty of stuff to think about!

 

[jvls1942]

If it is the apple flavor of the salt block the chickens are after, why not toss out a few apples and see if that keeps them away from the salt block ?
I would not put crushed salt out for them.
that would allow them to eat too much just by picking up chunks of salt.
what is the harm of them pecking at the salt block anyway ? they certainly can't be getting too much off of the block.