4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[redfrock]

The girls have been on the Ex-batts feed for some time now. At the start I mentioned about the huge increase in curry poos . Well I have to say these haven't improved despite them having ample time to get used to it. Also curry poos definitely = flies; therefore increase in curry poos = increase in flies . Previously the girls were on Marriages and we definitely didn't have this problem.

 

However, remove the Lifeguard from their diet and the curry poos reduce dramtically So it would seem that ....

 

Ex-batts feed + Lifeguard = curry poos + flies

 

Now I know that Allen & Page say there is no need for further supplements on this feed, however I have seen the benefits in the Lifeguard and really do not want to take them off it. Namely because having taken in poor & sickly stock in February, the Lifeguard really does seem to have keep them in good health. They were off it for 2 weeks and promptly went down hill (needless to say they are on it again).

 

I also don't want to take them off the Ex-batts feed for 2 reasons; we can no longer source Marriages locally and secondly Carmen, one of our original girls, has always laid eggs with paper-thin shells. No amount of grit /calcium/ supplements sorted it. However since she has been on the new feed the improvement in shell quality has been astounding and I am no longer worried that one day she would suffer from an egg breaking inside.

 

So, maybe I simply have to accept that the increase in curry poos is incidental compared to the health benefits. My only concern is that maybe it is too rich a mixture and they are not absorbing all the nutrients they should be

[Patricia W]

Can't say I've noticed the same effect - but I haven't looked for it tbh. Mine aren't ex-bats, just bantams. I'll keep an eye out for the curry!

 

Tricia

[Space Chick]

Do you know I hadn't made the connection but there has been an increase in curry poos since the girls have been on the ex batts. However, I'm going to stick with it as my ex batts birds are coming in a fortnight

[sandyhas3chucks]

what about mixing it with some other & bokashi?

I took mine off it as I also hasd suspected Bracyspira... which lives in the ceceum & also gives curry type poos!

I also dosed with Oregostim, which has fixed that, now I use the ex bat as a wet mash & add lots of garlic with it.

I have to say that whatever I have a horrengous fly problem.

am poo picking almost all day & currently using 30/40 fly paper revery 3-5 days! on the ground and under upturned wire hanging baskets!

[mostin]

I gave the ex-batt my full support for as long as I could but I could no longer deal with the volume of curry poos. I went back to the normal Allen and Page, Small Holder Range Layers Pellets and things have been back to normal ever since.

 

I was very disappointed to find this as I really did want to give the ex-batt food my full support, but it made the living conditions for my chooks into a a place I didn't want to walk in to .

 

The ex-batts seem to be feathering up ok on the normal food now, so fingers crossed.

[chelsea]

Not noticed any more curry poos than normal here and my girls have been on the ex batt feed for some time.

 

The love it, I buy it in crumb form and they are eating loads more compared to pellets.

[redfrock]

It only seems to be when you add Lifeguard into the equation - or that is what I have found.

 

Mine love the crumbs too - although I have to buy both crumbs and pellets because a couple would rather starve than eat the crumbs Spoilt madams! Can't really tell them that they are not getting down from the table until they have cleared their plates can I!

[lollyfry]

This is my 1st post on here as we are getting our 1st 4 ex-batt hens in a month's time (so excited!!) and have been very interested in this thread as the BHWT have recommended the allen & page ex-batt food but my friend who keeps chickens also swears by lifeguard so we were intending to use the 2 together but don't like the sound of all this curry-poo business!

 

Can anyone recommend anything the place of life guard? I believe apple cidar vinegar is also used for the same purpose (please correct me if i'm off track here!) but we have galvanised drinkers so not a good idea....help!