How many chickens in Eglu Cube

[Jools]

Does anyone have any feedback on Alfalfa extract? I asked at the agri-merchant where I get my chicken food and bedding from, but they hadn't heard of it. I've just ordered a small tub from ebay to try.

[The Dogmother]

It's excellent - the dark green chlorophyll is very good for them in the winter when there aren't many fresh greens around. An animal nutritionist friend tells me that it's packed full of 'micro-nutrients' and has a high protein level too (17%). My girls love it and I free-feed that or seaweed in a coop pot in their run, the one i use is this one by Crossgate Bioenergetics (lovely company name)

 

 

You can actually grow alfalfa shoots to eat as a salad green - it's lovely.

[Jools]

Yes, that's the stuff - I hope it's as good as it says on the tin!! I've ordered a 700g tub to try - my bantams have been on woodchip since November and although I give them some greens every day, I have noticed that their egg yolks are lighter than normal. I thought it might be a good supplement for them during winter ..... watch this space.

[The Dogmother]

You will notice a difference; the yolks are quite dark orange and their combs seem a bit redder too.

[Egluntyne]

I've used it. It does make the yolks a vibrant yellow and the hens seem to thrive on it.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Ooh this is interesting. Do you think the alfalfa sprouts would be as good or is the powder better as it's more concentrated? I grow alfalfa sprouts for myself so could easily grow an extra trayful for the girls (now that's true love, sharing your sprouts with the hens )

[The Dogmother]

I expect that they'd love the sprouts but would get through them very quickly. I am guessing that the granules/powder is more concentrated as it's freeze dried.

[Lavenders_Blue]

Yes I think you're right Claret, I actually just googled the alfalfa extract and apparently it takes 62.5 tonnes of sprouts to make 1 tonne of extract so I'm pretty sure it would be more cost effective to buy the powder!

(I buy my seeds in 0.5kg bags, not the tiddly garden centre packets, but it's still not cheap!)

[Jools]

Well that was quick - I ordered on Weds night and it arrived with this morning's post so I can start straight away.

 

If anyone wants to try it and can't buy it locally, I got mine here

[stoice]

Same here!!!!

 

After reading this post and Clarets recommendation I popped onto ebay too. Mina arrived this morning very well packaged. Brill service.

[Jools]

Well I thought it was time to report back as I've been adding Alfalfa extract to my bantams pellets every day for a couple of weeks. They don't seem overly keen on it but most of it disappears, so unless they're spitting it out again, it is going in.

 

Anyway, my main objective was to improve the yolk colour during winter as it's noticably paler than the rest of the year - they're on woodchip in winter and grass for spring - autumn. My Big Gals are on grass all year as their abode is at the bottom of the garden and they're allowed into my neighbour's field. So I compared two big eggs with three small eggs and while they're definitely darker than before, it seems that nowt beats plain and simple grass for that lovely orange colour .....

 

[quickcluck]

Mine won't eat it

 

It's been a while, maybe i'll try them again...