Why increase in oyster shell consumption?

[Chris09]

--Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are fairly high in both Phosphorus (3205.50 mg per lb) and Indigestible Fibers (21%) both are known to interfere with Calcium intake.
--Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic (2.4 pH) and neutralizes Calcium. Over using Apple Cider Vinegar can lower both stomach and blood pH to a unhealthy level if the bird can not take in enough Calcium.

 

[subhanalah]

--Black Oil Sunflower Seeds are fairly high in both Phosphorus (3205.50 mg per lb) and Indigestible Fibers (21%) both are known to interfere with Calcium intake.
--Apple Cider Vinegar is acidic (2.4 pH) and neutralizes Calcium. Over using Apple Cider Vinegar can lower both stomach and blood pH to a unhealthy level if the bird can not take in enough Calcium.

fanx!

 

[deacons]

Thanks to you both, really fascinating. I wonder how so many people get away with using ACV on a regular basis- it's something I started a couple of months ago as I have one bird who seems to cycle through vent gleet, and thought it might help. But it's probably just easier to give her an epsom salt dunk when she needs it rather than introduce ACV to all of them with this side effect. Combined with the heat, the introduction of the ACV is the biggest recent changes they've experienced, and coincides pretty well with the uptick in oyster shell eating.

The BOSS is really minimal in their diet right now, they get a handful of scratch to get them back in from free ranging in the morning, and I'm at the bottom of my container and haven't added BOSS to it since the spring, so I don't think that's having much effect. In the winter though, definitely a different story, they eat a lot more of it then. I suppose calcium demand in winter is theoretically lower because egg production decreases.

 

[vehve]

In winter the shorter days will mean they get less vitamin D and thus need more calcium. If you're closer to the equator, this won't really be a concern, but us people living close to Santa need to eat some extra vitamin D in the cold season.

 

[Chris09]

I wonder how so many people get away with using ACV on a regular basis

For most there chickens eat a lot of Oyster Shells, I'v even seen it on here where a roosters pH is so screwed up that the rooster is eating the Oyster Shells to balance the pH out.

 

[Chris09]

In winter the shorter days will mean they get less vitamin D and thus need more calcium.

Calcium wont give you Vitamin D it will only give more Calcium.

 

[vehve]

For most there chickens eat a lot of Oyster Shells, I'v even seen it on here where a roosters pH is so screwed up that the rooster is eating the Oyster Shells to balance the pH out.

That's why you should never follow advice blindly, but instead do research on whatever suggestions you get and make informed decisions. Another one that I'm a bit worried about is people praising DE, and others accepting this as a miracle cure to all parasites without doing any sort of research. Or treating a little scrape with tetracycline. I was shocked when I learned how easily you get broad spectrum antibiotics in some parts of the world. But now I'm stealing the thread again, so disregard my comments please

 

[Chris09]

A good way to increase Vitamin D is Cod Liver Oil (Vitamin D: 2217 IU)
As for DE, it's just a gimmick even a lot of the "health sites" are calling it gimmick.

 

[Den in Penn]

In summer it is not the dehydration that affects the calcium in take, it is that chickens pant rather then sweat. Panting changes the ph level in the body.

 

[subhanalah]

Oh, lactic acid build up? Like with crocodiles being captured?