Frequently Asked Questions
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Why did the chicken cross the street?
Whew, enough of these eggsistential questions and on to the ones we can actually answer!!
Q: What are Omega-3s and do your feeds have them?
Q: What is Camelina and why do you use it?
Q: Do backyard chickens need grit?
Q: Are whole grains good for chickens?
Q: How much do laying hens eat?
Q: Why is your feed whole grain and not in pellet form?
Q: Do you put medication in your chick starter to aid against Coccidiosis?
- I’ve noticed some powder left over after my chickens eat the grains. What is this and how can I get my chickens to eat it?
A: The “powder” left behind is all the little bits of grain that gets crushed, limestone (calcium), and other nutrients like Camelina meal, vitamins and minerals. Because our feed is as unprocessed as possible we do not add unnecessary binders or heat-treat the feed to get the ingredients to stick together. This powder is all natural and great for your chickens. Help them finish it off by adding to a treat like oatmeal or rice or just add a bit of moisture to it so they can eat it.
The type of feeder you use is also very important. We suggest using a PVC Feeder design to help contain these fines. These types of feeders have proven very successful with our customers!
- What are Omega-3s and do your feeds have them?
A: Omega-3 Fatty Acids are essential for many creatures. Our bodies cannot make Omega-3 fatty acids on their own so we must eat foods that contain Omega-3 to get these essential nutrients. We recently had our layer feed tested and the results showed a high amount of Omega-3 due to the Camelina meal we use. For more information on Omega fatty acids please visit the Omega-3 Wikipedia page.
- What is camelina and why do you use it?
A: Camelina (Camelina sativa), also known as “wild flax”, is a member of the brassica family (along with broccoli, mustard, kale and others). Camelina is rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids with 50% of the fatty acids in cold pressed oils being polyunsaturated. Rich in antioxidants, camelina is highly stable and resists oxidation and rancidity well.
Archeological evidence suggests that camelina has been grown in Europe for at least 3000 years and has been used for a variety of purposes including food, lamp oil, fuel in the form of biodiesel, and even bio-plastics.
Camelina needs little water or nitrogen to flourish and is able to grow in marginal soils. It can act as a cover crop or rotational crop in between wheat plantings.
We use camelina meal as a source of essential fatty acids and protein.
- Do backyard chickens need grit?
Yes!
Grit (small rocks) aids in the grinding of whole grain or other coarse feed in the gizzard. Experiments have shown that grit should be supplied to laying hens, and that it is best to furnish hard grit in addition to limestone grit or oyster shell. In Ohio experiments, supplying layers with hard grit… (and) oyster shell increased the egg production 9.6 percent and reduced the feed requirement per dozen eggs 7.1 percent.”
- Morrison’s Feeds and Feeding, 22nd edition.
Grit keeps the digestive tract moving. Grit also aids in proper grinding of the feed to absorption size for better utilization. And grit also helps digest the more fibrous grasses and other plants, which is the whole reason for our putting chickens on pasture! Low carcass weights are due to some factor keeping the birds from getting all the food and water they need, or not converting what they eat to muscle and bone. If your birds have adequate feeder and water room and enough high-energy, palatable feed, try adding grit. I have seen the addition of grit to a broiler diet contribute as much as 3/4 – 1 lb of additional growth with no other significant changes to the growing environment.
Grit is available in several sizes for different species at different stages of growth: pigeon grit, quail grit, broiler starter, grower, finisher grit, layer grit, turkey starter, grower #1, grower #2, and finisher grit.
“I feel that grit should be started at day 2 or 3 of life and be offered continuously throughout the life cycle. I often hear “They get all the grit they need from the pasture/dirt.” Unless your chickens are grazing a gravel pit (in which case there wouldn’t be much grass growing), you’re unlikely to have enough grit for your birds on the pasture unless you provide it.”
- Jeff Mattocks is the Poultry Nutrionist at the Fertrell Company. jeffmattocks@fertrell.com
- Are whole grains good for chickens?
A: Yes!
Whole grains are more nutritious than ground, since oxidation occurs after grinding, reducing nutritional content; the longer the ground grain sits around, the greater the loss.
When changing the diet of adult birds, add the whole grain to the diets gradually to promote gizzard development. The gizzard helps grind feed. Use whole grain for 5% of the diet for the first two weeks to adapt the gizzard, then, over a couple of weeks more, increase the percentage to whatever level you have decided to feed. Birds fed whole grains have significantly larger gizzards, which could be a selling point for gizzard bits for gravy. Grit needs to be provided at all times when the birds are not on pasture in order to help digest the whole grain.
- Diane Schivera, MAT MOFGA’s Organic Livestock Specialist
- How much do laying hens eat?
A: You can plan on a hen eating 1/4 to 1/3 pound of feed every day.
- Why is your feed whole grain and not in pellet form?
A: In order to make pellets the grain is exposed to a high heat, steam process which we believe can degrade the nutritional value of the ingredients. We endeavor to offer feeds that are as close to nature as possible.
- Do you put medication in your Chick Starter to aid against Coccidiosis?
A: Coccidiosis is a parasitic disease of the intestinal tract of chickens and other animals. We do not medicate our feeds but rather choose to help chickens fend off the disease in more natural ways. We add probiotics, live microorganisms, to our feed which help support the birds’ immune and digestive systems. The key to preventing Coccidiosis is a clean environment, so be sure to change the bedding daily in your brooder.
If, by chance, your chicks become ill try offering them raw milk for about an hour each day for 5-7 days. The beneficial bacteria found in raw milk should help them recover.
Resources
When it comes to great information on raising chickens, these are our favorite sites:
Comfy Coops – Handcrafted Chicken Coops
http://thetanglednest.com/2010/02/our-urban-chicken-coop-plan/