Cinnamon Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I was looking at the eggs in Waitrose earlier,& I am wondering if there is any supplement I can give my girls to make their eggs ricer in Omega 3? I know there is some doubt in the press as to the benefits,just an idle curiosity really Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 I believe linseed is high in omega-3 and so are sunflower kernels. I feed both these to my hens as treats. These should increase the content of omega-3 in the eggs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 8, 2006 Share Posted April 8, 2006 Mine get Allan & Page feed which has added Omega 3 & 6. I'd like to give them organic feed, but can't find a local stockist... but the A&P stuff is available locally, inexpensive and they wolf it down..... and the Omega supplements mollify me. I also give linseeds & sunflower kernels.... my chickens also love salmon..... a very rare treat.... but you should just see the way they attack a smoked salmon and scrambled egg breakfast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 Stupid question........Are sunflower kernels the same as sunflower seeds,just the ones from a pet shop that you throw on the bird table? And Linseeds....pet shop too? Also,can the hens eat fish then? I thought it was veggie stuff only for them - would be delighted to feed them some fish if its OK for them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 I'm not entirely sure of the DEFRA stance on fish Sarah, I know that they say no meat and there have been previous discussions on the meat issue on the forum. I don't ever give my hens meat, but I do on odd occassions give them fish s"Ooops, word censored!"s. Since I don't actually know the official guidelines perhaps I should say that that is my personal choice and not necessarily something that I should be recommending . Maybe Motherhen or someone equally knowledgeable will be able to clarify this for us Linseeds.... I usually get mine from Holland & Barratt, but I imagine that's an expensive way of buying them and that an animal feed place would be cheaper. Sunflower kernels are the seeds inside the husk.... my chooks don't like shelling their own and I generally end up buying them already shelled and sold as kernels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 Thanks Kate. Just been & bought some sunflower hearts,which sound like the same thing. The girls love them & I am now a very popular chicken mummy! I like the sound of the omega 3 rich food you have been using,so I might phone them & ask for a sample as I don't want to buy a whole bag in case it gets wasted Fish - well,I will wait & see on that one.I would like to give them it,especially as I chucked some tuna yesterday which they could have tried. I know the DEFRA stance on meat & I think I would fel happier giving them fish than meat,which I wouldn't consider. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 I bought a bottle of flax oil which is very rich in omega 3 and put that in our girls food. I got this from waitrose. Now that i've run out i'm using a bottle of 'good oil' from tesco's which has omega 3,6 and 9......not sure what all these do but im guessing they must be good . Mixing this with toast etc does also help the oyster shell grit stick to the food so i know they are getting that benefit too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 I saw that "Good Oil" in the supermarket last week,& thought it looked...well...good Maybe I will slosh a little in with their pellets & see how they like it. Thanks for the tip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rachel19 Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 Yeah it smells really really nice too.....very nutty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley-Jean Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 I buy my chickens feed, sun flower hearts, linseed, corn, oyster shell etc. from a pet feed shop the kind which has things in big paper sacks and weighs it out by the kilo. Chickens will be quite ok eating fish. The reason DEFRA say no meat, is because of transfere of diseases (like BSE), if you are happy to eat it yourself then your chooks will be. The regulation is aimed at commercial producers to prevent scares like the BSE one. My girls love tuna (fresh and tinned). I found that tinned salmon makes their dropping smell fishy. I don't, however, give them 'meat' (bird or mammal). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motherhen Posted April 9, 2006 Share Posted April 9, 2006 I think everyone else has answered this comprehensively. Linseeds are easily available from feed merchants quite cheaply - they are a supplement for horses to give them shiny coats. The DEFRA regulations apply to Commercial poultry farmers, and therefore strictly speaking anyone who sells their eggs. I have always given my hens meat s"Ooops, word censored!"s (but not chicken - offends my sensibilities) and they like fish as well but you have to be careful to remove fish bones, apart from the sort you get in tinned salmon which would just be extra calcium for them. Hens are naturally omnivores and enjoy not just worms & slugs but mice and frogs if they can get them. We also give ours the left over bones from a joint to peck at and they really enjoy those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted April 9, 2006 Author Share Posted April 9, 2006 I think everyone else has answered this comprehensively. Linseeds are easily available from feed merchants quite cheaply - they are a supplement for horses to give them shiny coats. Thanks for that motherhen. My pet food store does not stock Linseeds,but there is a horsey shop just down the road I might try Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
