Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[CluckyBucks]

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

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Never used them myself but have read that others use good quality cat food and tuna in spring water.

[Redwing]

Chick crumb is also good, both that and the cat food and tuna contain lots of protein

[jackieb]

Any particular cat food, flavour I mean not brand.

[Egluntyne]

Not chicken.

[Old Speckled Hen]

Not chicken.

Too true BUT there's reclaimed chicken in practically every cat food bar veggie

[Space Chick]

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

[Redwing]

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

[The Dogmother]

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.

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou very much everybody for your help and suggestions, i will certainly be noting them down and trying them out

 

xx xx

[Egluntyne]

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.

[madchickenlady]

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

[CluckyBucks]

Thankyou thankyou thankyou everybody

 

xx xx

[The Dogmother]

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.

[madchickenlady]

Thanks for the tip, Claret

[CluckyBucks]

Right, i have mixed chick crumb in with their origional food Lets hope she doesnt look as scraggley as last year

 

xx xx

[xScrunchee]

I don't give mine tuna as I find it taints the eggs Not nice.

[The Dogmother]

Can't say I'd ever noticed that.

[CluckyBucks]

Im not very keen on tuna, if it taints the eggs, i may give that one a miss

 

xx xx