suplements?

[E3lx]

hi,
does anyone know of inexpensive or everyday things that can be used as supplements for mpulting chickens on a shoestring budget?
thanks

 

[tygrysek75]

Hi,I dont know if you asking for something to feed chickens or something else.I grow veggies for them and for our self.Herbs are very liked by chickens try put some seeds in pots and grow them on window.Mine like parsley,thyme,salads,betroot,spinach etc.If you on very short budged try chick weed which grows extreemly fast and has loads of nutriens,dandelions which helps with digestive system.I had also read on other forums that hunging fresh or dry wormwood is great at keeping all bugs away.I had put a lot horse manure in my garden in spring and for a surprise crop I had loads of oats has growed too-and they loved fresh treet.There is loads of weeds which chickens hapily eat

 

[chrismahon]

Practical Poultry had an article last month on using dried nettles as a supplement. Haven't tried it yet but nettles in our garden are plentiful so will be giving it a go. Like Tygrysek75 we grow vegies for them. They like cabbages and sweetcorn (which is nearly ready if the pigeons don't get there first). Also cucumber and tomatoes.

 

[Chuck]

If you are feeding layers pellets they really don't need any other supplement. They stop laying during the moult so they just need to produce a new crop of feathers.

Problem with nettles is that you have to be very careful with them when dried or you lose most of the leaf.

 

[E3lx]

Sorry, I didnt explain very well, i meant some sort of inexpensive supplement that i could add to their feed or water to help them produce healthy feathers.

 

[tygrysek75]

Nettles are very good for them especially fresh,but you need to cut them for chickens and take fresh grow without seeds as they then best,and add then to the feed.You can try to make herbal tea (from fresh nettles now as they plentifull)for them and see if you see any difrence.

 

[Chuck]

They will produce new and healthy feathers without any supplements ! Can't get cheaper than that.