Tragedy related to nutrition?

[PattyO]

On Wednesday while I was at work and my husband at home a flock of crows flew low over the house and panicked my chickens who were loose in the backyard. He said they ran around and flew and retreated into the line of Forsythia bushes that border one side of the fence. He told me one of them was limping. When I came home I found Rita lying down. I got her up and she was limping badly. I took her back to work and radiographs showed a fractured femur close to the pelvic bone. We had to put her to sleep. I am now very concerned about the bone health of my birds. I did not see what happened this could have been a warranted fracture if she really slammed into something or it could be poor bone health. I feed Purina Layena free choice. Pulled the tag of the bottom of the bag. Ingredients list is very vague much like poor quality dog food. First igredient processed grain by products, grain products, plant protein products etc. Can anyone suggest a superior product. Anybody feed Countryside Organics? It is a soy free product that explicitly lists its ingredients. Field peas first, corn, oats wheat, Ca Carbonate, fishmeal, alfafla meal, flaxseed, rice bran, kelp and more.

 

[gryeyes]

I feed Nutrena All Flock, and provide crushed oyster shell free choice.

I don't like Purina products... but that's just me.

 

[PattyO]

I provide oyster shell but they dont really care for it. I have been giving them their eggshells when I get any. I sell most of my eggs at work. Does Nutrena list its ingredients explicitely?

 

[citychickx6]

I am sorry for your loss.

I am feeding Bomgarrs store brand layer pellets right now. The ingredients are not what I would like so I am still looking for a local better choice. I also do not like Purina brand.

 

[real_redhead]

Hey PattyO, it's your fellow Roanoker, sorry about your girl. I use Dumor that I get from TSC, haven't had any problems.

 

[poseygrace]

I can't help you with the feed, but I am sorry for your loss. I use Purina too but am searching for an organic alternative. Hard to find in my town!

 

[PattyO]

Ok Im going to go look at the ingredients. Be back soon.

 

[PattyO]

Cant find Dumor ingredients. Are they some how affiliated with Purina?

 

[real_redhead]

Hope you can read this!

 

[silkiechicken]

I feed purina and when I butcher older birds have never run across brittle bones. Even in birds that are 3-4 years old and have laid lots of eggs. Matter of fact my mom got her cleaver stuck in the leg bone of an old hen and bent it while trying to get it out.

Birds panic very easily and it would not surprise me to have a bird run into something so hard it breaks a bone. There are a number of cases where a freightened bird breaks their neck, a hip bone was a bad injury.