CluckyBucks Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Hello Ive read about poultry spice and tonic, but was just wondering if their are any household foods that can help a chicken through a moult? Thankyou xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Never used them myself but have read that others use good quality cat food and tuna in spring water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 18, 2009 Share Posted August 18, 2009 Chick crumb is also good, both that and the cat food and tuna contain lots of protein Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackieb Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Any particular cat food, flavour I mean not brand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Not chicken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Not chicken. Too true BUT there's reclaimed chicken in practically every cat food bar veggie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Some of the more expensive fish ones do not contain chicken, but then you may as well just give them fish. However, I had a fact sheet in readiness for my ex batts, and it states on that, and I quote... "If your hens are poorly feathered (or even quite bald!) they will benefit from higher protein diet until their feathers have re-grown – if the hens are fed layers mash or pellets alone, the feathers may take a few months to come through, but if supplemented with lots of protein, they will come through in a few weeks. You can supplement their protein intake by feeding them “growers pellets” or “breeders pellets”, which are similar to layers pellets but have more protein. Alternatively, you can supplement with any form of protein that is suitable for human consumption, eg fish, meat or cheese s"Ooops, word censored!"s, cooked beans or lentils etc. A little dairy food is fine, but large amounts may give the hens diarrhoea. Hens are naturally omnivorous, and if you give them the opportunity, they will enthusiastically supplement their diet with worms, beetles, woodlice etc. Hens should not be fed raw potato clippings, rhubarb or tuna fish!" OK I knew the potato and rhubarb but I always thought tuna in spring water was fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Mine love tuna and seem fine on it Re cat food: I buy the stuff in trays, peel the lid of and place iit in the run, no nasty washing up then Chickens used to be fed on all sorts of stuff, there was no pelleted chicken food years ago, I thnk we get paranoid sometimes! obviously some things are poisonous like raw potatoes/peelings but apart from that I tend not to worry too much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 Meal worms are a brilliant source of protein and they love them. Mine like chick crumbs too. I always add a good poultry tonic to their water when they are moulting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thankyou very much everybody for your help and suggestions, i will certainly be noting them down and trying them out xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Mine love tuna too and it has done them no harm. Buying 'dolphin friendy' tuna is very expensive though so it is a rare treat. Chick crumbs and mealworms are appreciated by my girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I've been told by an elderly poultryman to mix chick crumb in with their normal pellets during a moult. They need the extra energy, I suppose Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thankyou thankyou thankyou everybody xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I've been told by an elderly poultryman to mix chick crumb in with their normal pellets during a moult. They need the extra energy, I suppose I sometimes use that, but there's more protein in meal worms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madchickenlady Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Thanks for the tip, Claret Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 21, 2009 Author Share Posted August 21, 2009 Right, i have mixed chick crumb in with their origional food Lets hope she doesnt look as scraggley as last year xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xScrunchee Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 I don't give mine tuna as I find it taints the eggs Not nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 21, 2009 Share Posted August 21, 2009 Can't say I'd ever noticed that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted August 23, 2009 Author Share Posted August 23, 2009 Im not very keen on tuna, if it taints the eggs, i may give that one a miss xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
