Soaked, dried cranberries as a treat for silkies

[Veb]

Here dried cranberries have sugar added, delicious, but don't overdue, they don't need that added sugar.
How many extra goodies are they getting? They should be eating their regular diet, with very small amounts of everything else. Do you also have oyster shell in a separate dish for them? Hope so, and an all flock diet.
Mary

Yes Mary they do have a bowl of oyster shell grit. I’m probably giving them to many treats. They do have regular mix of seed. Just got some diamentatios earth, which I haven’t used before also some probiotic vitamins, in case of sickness, as I lost one earlier this week she was about 3 yrs old. tried everything to save her she had never laid an egg and the smallest of the 3, but such a little sweetie. Bev

 

[Veb]

Thanks, that sounds sensible, I better go lightly on the cranberries too much sugar didn’t think of that.

 

[Veb]

A common rule of thumb: they should eat 90% chicken feed, 10% everything else.
(Not right for ALL situations, but it is a common guideline.)

Of course then it gets more complicated:
Plus unlimited access to water, oyster shell for calcium, and grit.

But grass & bugs & other things eaten while free ranging sort-of don't count, partly because you can't measure them anyway

And I would probably allow unlimited watermelon, because it's mostly water.

Thanks all makes good sense.

 

[Veb]

What is a currawong?

An Australian native bird, looks a bit like a magpie. Black and white colour and quite big. They have a nice call though.

 

[KelseyBoxer]

I just goggled them. They sound so musical. Wouldn't mind waking up to some singing like that.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I’m probably giving them to many treats. They do have regular mix of seed. Just got some diamentatios earth, which I haven’t used before also some probiotic vitamins, in case of sickness

What is the diatomaceous earth for? What are the probiotics and vitamins for? I think you're throwing off the nutritional balance of their feed by including so many treats and extras. Vitamins shouldn't be given willy-nilly, if you're not treating something specific. Too much of anything isn't good for chickens or humans.

 

[Veb]

What is the diatomaceous earth for? What are the probiotics and vitamins for? I think you're throwing off the nutritional balance of their feed by including so many treats and extras. Vitamins shouldn't be given willy-nilly, if you're not treating something specific. Too much of anything isn't good for chickens or human

 

[Veb]

What is the diatomaceous earth for? What are the probiotics and vitamins for? I think you're throwing off the nutritional balance of their feed by including so many treats and extras. Vitamins shouldn't be given willy-nilly, if you're not treating something specific. Too much of anything isn't good for chickens or humans.

The diatomaceous earth is for lice and mites, which I discovered on one of my sick chooks. its a natural product and is the best way to naturally treat mites and lice, from fresh water and human grade. As I had a very sick little chook, Buttercup, the probiotics with vitamins was a last resort to try and save her, unfortunately too late. Sadly my favourite little hen died earlier this week, after nursing her full on for three days. When desperate you read and try everything. Also bathed my little silkie with baby shampoo and dried very carefully with hair dryer and kept her in dining room in a seperate cage. All this to no avail. It is very hard to always no specifically what is wrong with a sick chook. You must be a genius vet if you do. not even my vet could help. But thanks for you comments.

 

[rosemarythyme]

The diatomaceous earth is for lice and mites, which I discovered on one of my sick chooks. its a natural product and is the best way to naturally treat mites and lice, from fresh water and human grade. As I had a very sick little chook, Buttercup, the probiotics with vitamins was a last resort to try and save her, unfortunately too late. Sadly my favourite little hen died earlier this week, after nursing her full on for three days. When desperate you read and try everything. Also bathed my little silkie with baby shampoo and dried very carefully with hair dryer and kept her in dining room in a seperate cage. All this to no avail. It is very hard to always no specifically what is wrong with a sick chook. You must be a genius vet if you do. not even my vet could help. But thanks for you comments.

Sorry if it came across as if I was judging on how you treated your sick bird, but what I worried about was that you said you give vitamins "in case of sickness." For birds that are healthy, additional vitamins are not necessary. For a sick bird, yes I would try whatever is reasonable to try and treat them... I just culled a bird recently that wasn't improving even after dosing with vit B and E which had helped her issues in the past.

Lots of debate over this but I don't believe in DE killing mites other than grain mites (which is why it's in some feeds). If you're looking for a "natural" topical mite treatment, elemental sulfur may have good potential as a treatment.

 

[Veb]

Ok, no offence taken. Still upset about the loss of little Buttercup. Thanks for the input about sulphur Guess we are all still learning and trying what works for us.