Why Can't You Give Iron To Chickens??

[AndreaS]

Hey G.G!

Thanks for the information! I agree completely about the antibiotics. I have a small collection of them in my chicken first aid kit, but feel strongly that they should only be used when they are absolutely necessary, and then only for what they are specifically indicated for. I think too many people will throw a "pinch" of antibiotics in the chickens water at the first sign of a problem. I am really concerned about antibiotic resistance, and I think there is a lot of confusion about hoe to properly use them.

I Do have a question though about over doing vitamins and supplements. I only use the poly-vi-sol on sick birds, but there are a few things I use regularly. About once a week I give my girls a scrambled egg mixed with some probios probiotic powder and a little cod liver oil. They get 1 teaspoon of OACV per gallon of water about three times a week..just recently, as we have reached 100 degree weather here, I've been putting 2 drops of nutri drench for poultry in their water. Which is cleaned out daily.

Does this sound like too much?

I don't want to over do it!

Thanks for the advice!

Andrea

 

[Lollipop]

For years I have used Red Cell to build up my birds. Red Cell is a vitamin addative and blood fortifier for horses, but works great on fowl also. Just 2-3 drops in a half gallon of water is plenty and you can notice the difference in the color of the comb and the activity of the bird. I was told by some old cockers that too much of it can lead to blindness, but small amounts really build up a weak bird. Just as many have said already, moderation is the key........Pop

 

[coastaltx]

It weighs them down, and they start to waddle around like ducks.

 

[Guinea Goonie]

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I have heard that many, many people do this. If your birds are doing well, i sure do not see any problems. I free range my birds, they are out every day for the entire day.

They get plenty of bugs, leafs, dirt and god know what else. I do have a problem with scalely leg mites, but the girls and I are on top of it.

I think and I ALWAY recommend that your girls get FRESH, CLEAN and COOL water daily, I think that just doing this (as you stated you also do) will keep your flock healthy. My girls go through close to 4 gallons of water evrery day. I use two, two gallon waterers and they are cleaned and filled will cool well water every day/night.

I also keep a source of water outside the chicken barn which is changed when I see it cloud. In the summer I run the hose in front of the barn for about 10 minutes.
The girls love the water off the ground in little puddles.

I truely believe that what your girls drink is the key to their health and well being. Once you commit to this, the chore is quick and easy.

 

[AndreaS]

Sounds exactly like my watering program! I've also taken to adding ice to the waterers when its really hot. I only have 5 hens, but I use 2 gallon size waterers, and spray the run down with water in the morning. My girls only free range when we are home, since we don't have fencing yet- but we're working on it!

Thanks everyone for the helpful information!

 

[jombolo]

i read in another post that an iron deficiency is what causes speckled eggs that are normally laid brown....

 

[RandyAruba]

Just feed chickens more iron rich vegetables these help for marans & other dark laying birds as their blood iron is the main brown coloring of the egg shell

Such vegetables are green like broccoli sprouted moong beans you can use also sprouted black beans sprouted black barley even beet shouts or red beet skin or tops

Plus its not chemical

 

[StandinginSovereignty]

Would say it's probably because most of our "fortified" with iron supplements and or cereal etc are not actually bioavailable forms of iron and they are literally toxic. The form they use isn't meant to ever be in the human body and most people don't realize this. But this applies to all kinds of things. We've been lied to our entire lives and we live in a completely inverted reality where everything seems to be topsy turvy. Up is down, left is right, in is out, and it goes on and on and on. The biggest issue is the fact that we are willfully lied to about health and nutrition so people can make the highest profits, literally off the backs of other people's sickness. It should be unacceptable to do harm to even one person, unfortunately people find it acceptable. And until we all start finding harm unacceptable, period, we will continue to live in a f'd up reality.

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I don't know. I googled and couldn't come up with much. Excess iron is toxic, but it seemed that chickens were not any more vulnerable. Very intriguing. I guess I always assumed that it was too much. Hope someone has an answer

Good luck

Imp