Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Debby Tutton]

Hi, I have a rather unusual question. I live in South West France and brought my Eglu over here when I moved. I now own 4 happy hens (cookoo marans) and all is hunky dorey.

However, where I buy my food there are boxes of "Salt for Chickens". I have never used this or heard of it before. I have read on the net that too much salt makes them canabilistic so I don't really want to use it unless essential.

Has anyone heard of giving salt to chickens (it is probably because of the hot summers we get over here) and if so do you have any idea of quantities ?

Any information would be gratefully received.

[jennydavies]

Bonjour Debbie,

We are in Auros, in the Gironde, Sunny SW France. We are having some very hot weather here already. I don't give my girls salt, but I do make sure they have a plentiful supply of water each day, our four get through about four litres a day and I add Bio Apple Cider Vinegar and a spoon of Garlic powder to their water each day. We provide them with plenty of shady area to rest in and quite often we see them "catching a few rays"

Whereabouts are you ?

We retired early and moved here 20 months ago, we absolutely adore living here and never go back to England - not even to visit. We have totally settled in to the laid-back French way of life, we have made some wonderful friends and we have great neighbours who all have chickens. We bought a plot of land of 1,380 m2 and had a bungalow built to our own design.

I have not seen salt for the girls when I go shopping, only the huge pecking blocks which don't look very interesting at all.

Hope to chat some more,

Jenny and Charlie.

[The Dogmother]

Great to hear that you are enjoying your chooks.

 

Please don't give them salt though as they can't metabolise it. I suspect that it is the French name for something completely different, and probably harmless.

[Debby Tutton]

Hi Claret,

 

Yes I think you are probably right. The internet is very specific about not mixing salt and chickens (unless they are the oven ready variety )

 

I think it will probably get shelved and forgotten.

 

Thanks

[Debby Tutton]

It's just been pointed out to me that the Sel (salt) for chickens is actually only 1% salt and the rest is calcium.

 

Must remember this in future - ignor label just read contents

 

I've lived here for years - I should have realised