People have been using eggs in their diet for centuries. Chicken was domesticated by humans more than 3.2 thousand years ago, and the mechanism of shell formation in the body of this bird has not yet been fully studied.
It takes a laying hen 22-25 hours to form one egg, or roughly a day. Through chemical analysis, it was found that the shell of one egg contains on average 2 grams of calcium. The calcium shell of the egg in the oviduct of a bird is formed 9-10 hours after the formation of the oocyte begins (the oocyte is the very first cell from which the yolk is subsequently formed). The production of the shell takes the longest, usually taking 15-16 hours. In order to accumulate 2 grams of calcium for the shell, during this entire time (16 hours) the chicken must “produce” 125 milligrams of calcium per hour! Such figures seem incredible, because it is known that in general the body of an adult laying hen contains no more than 25-30 milligrams of calcium! Where then do birds get so much building material for their shells? Until now, this process remains a mystery.
However, scientists continue research in this area of physiology. So recently the results of an experiment became known, proving that the chicken is by no means a simple bird. The study was based on the exclusion method; scientists decided to find out what the eggs laid by a chicken would be like if calcium was excluded from the bird’s daily diet? The results incredibly surprised the researchers - the chicken lays eggs covered with a shell that is no different from the shells of chickens not participating in the experiment.
It turns out that if a chicken is fed with food that does not contain calcium, and is fed, for example, with food containing an abundance of potassium (this can be achieved by adding copious amounts of mica to the decalcified food), which is exactly what a group of scientists did, then inside its body the bird is able to transform potassium to calcium! But how can this be? What is the mechanism of this transformation? The answer dawned on scientists as soon as they looked at the periodic table of elements. Calcium has an atomic weight of 20, and potassium 19, in the body of a bird, potassium was converted into calcium by transmutation with hydrogen ions, which has an atomic weight of 1! Aside from the scientific component, the laying hen can safely be called a natural alchemist.
Further conclusions and assumptions seem no less surprising: what if the chicken has not just one, but many transmutation processes programmed in its body? Then it turns out that she, and any other bird, is capable of producing calcium from almost any set of substances supplied with food! Alchemists of the Middle Ages would go crazy if they learned about this property of birds. Research continues, perhaps magical processes will be deciphered and used for the benefit of humanity.
By the way, here is an interesting video where you will see an egg in an egg, very unusual...
In the body of farm poultry, calcium metabolism occurs most intensively. In just 10 days of postembryonic development, the calcium content in the body of broilers increases 5 times. By this time, the calcium concentration in the skeleton has stabilized and reaches 80-85% of these indicators in poultry by the end of fattening.
A laying hen releases about 0.5 kg of calcium during a laying cycle (250-260 eggs), which is 25 times greater than the total reserves of this element in the body. The daily requirement of a laying hen for shell formation alone (per 1 kg of live weight) is approximately 10 times higher than the requirement of a highly productive active cow.
The results of experimental studies and official recommendations on calcium-phosphorus nutrition standards before 1970 are summarized in our monograph. Therefore, in this work we will evaluate only the trends of recent years and compare the standards adopted in our country with foreign ones.
Chickens. Over the past decade, there has been a trend towards a gradual increase in the level of calcium in feed for laying hens. Reports by a number of authors about the positive effect of very high doses of calcium (up to 4-5% or more) on shell quality have led to some enthusiasm for increased doses, but in general the recommended standards remained at the level of 3.0-3.5%. in feed with natural moisture, or 3.3-3.8% in air-dried matter.
These standards are calculated using the factorial method, taking into account the following parameters: endogenous calcium losses in feces and urine, calcium excretion in eggs, egg production level and calcium retention from feed.
Using the isotope dilution method, endogenous fecal calcium losses in laying hens with a productivity of 70% were determined to be on average 7-8% of total fecal calcium. With a calcium content in the diet of 2.8-3%, this amounts to an average of 95-100 mg. Under the same conditions, urine excreted 180 mg per day. Consequently, the total endogenous losses (maintenance calcium) per day are on average 275-280 mg (Table 189).
With an egg weight of 50-55 g, the weight of the dry shell is on average 10% (9.5-10.5%), and the calcium content in it is 36%. In total, the shell and shells contain 1760 mg of calcium, and the white and yolk contain 30-40 mg. The average calcium content in a commercial egg of 1800-1900 mg can be taken as a starting point for calculations. For breeding eggs this figure should be increased to 2000 mg.
The degree of calcium retention by laying hens depends on its content in the diet and the level of egg production (Table 190).
The data presented indicate that with a high level of calcium, the degree of its absorption by laying hens decreases both in absolute and in relative terms.
In the experiments of Herwitz and Griminger, with a 70% egg laying level from the 3rd to the 10th month of laying, calcium retention in white Leghorn chickens was fairly constant and amounted to 60%. From months 10 to 12, feed intake, performance, and calcium retention decreased. In other experiments conducted in our country, with the same general patterns, lower rates of calcium absorption were obtained (Table 191).
Apparently, the indicator of calcium digestibility in the first six months of laying can be taken as 45-50% (on average 47.5%), in the next six months - 35-45% (on average 40%).
Based on these initial values, it is easy to calculate the calcium requirement of laying hens (in grams per head per day):
Ca = A + B / C * D,
where A is the amount of “maintaining” calcium, g; B - calcium content in one egg, g; C - calcium retention from feed, %; D - productivity, %. Substituting the corresponding values, we get:
Ca = 0.28 + 1.90/47.5 * 70 = 3.20 g.
at 70% productivity in the first six months of laying hens.
Numerous experiments conducted in our country and abroad have shown that increasing calcium in the diet of laying hens above the specified standards is inappropriate. Instead of the expected improvement in shell quality, the opposite results are often obtained. In addition, excess calcium inhibits the absorption of microelements (zinc, manganese, iron, possibly copper) and impairs the absorption of plant (phytate) phosphorus. The introduction of excessive amounts of calcium into feed (in our country usually in the form of chalk) impairs their taste and palatability by birds.
The percentage of calcium in feed depends on the feed consumption of laying hens (Table 192). Due to large individual and age-related fluctuations in this indicator, in practice calcium is usually dosed for the entire flock with an average consumption of 11-12 kg of feed per 100 laying hens per day.
For production conditions, we can recommend a simplified calculation formula that provides for an adjustment for the amount of feed consumed by the bird.
Ca,% = A/B*0.22
where A is egg laying, %; B is the average amount of feed consumed by one hen per day (g); 0.22 is an empirical coefficient.
Of course, one cannot expect an absolute coincidence of the data presented in the table with the experimental data, but in general they turn out to be quite close (Table 193).
These experiments also confirmed that a calcium level above 3.2-3.5% with an average consumption of 107 g of feed by laying hens is excessive and has a negative effect. As for shell quality, it is not so much the increased level that influences it, but the source of calcium in the diet.
The level of calcium and phosphorus in the diet of laying hens is also regulated depending on the environmental temperature. At temperatures above the comfort zone (28° C or more), the size of the eggs decreases and the quality of the shell deteriorates (Table 194). Poultry productivity and protein quality do not change. Possible reasons for this are reduced feed intake and inhibition of thyroid function.
In this regard, the content of calcium and phosphorus in diets at high temperatures increases by 10-15% compared to the norm.
Table 195 summarizes the materials on the calcium requirements of laying hens adopted in Russia and a number of foreign countries.
The standards recommended for commercial feed mixtures by the famous poultry feeding specialist Scott are drawn up with some reserve for all nutrients, including minerals, which guarantees against possible accidents in the production of feed mixtures. In general, these standards coincide with those adopted in the Soviet Union (except for the second phase of oviposition).
For breeding roosters, 1.8-2.3% calcium and 0.75-0.80% phosphorus are recommended.
The needs of pullets for calcium and other mineral elements in the period preceding oviposition have been poorly studied. The usual recommendations for gradually transitioning pullets to a laying hen diet are not specific enough.
Repeated experiments have shown that the level of calcium recommended for growing young animals during this period becomes insufficient and does not provide (despite the high absorption of deposits) the necessary calcium reserves in the skeleton. Calcium deposition during the pre-laying period reaches 0.5 g per day. At a retention level of 40%, the calcium requirement is 1.2-1.3 g per day (2% in complete feed consumed in the amount of 60-70 g), the optimal phosphorus level is 0.9%.
Chickens of egg and meat breeds. Calcium standards for young animals of egg and meat breeds were developed on the basis of scientific and production experiments, which took into account indicators of growth, consumption and payment for feed, and health status. However, these needs can also be calculated using the factorial method.
Calcium deposition is directly related to body weight. On average, over a period of 1-30 days, 1.26 g of calcium per 100 g of live weight is deposited in the body, at the age of 31-90 days - 1.15 g, at the age of 91-150 days - 1.20 g. The differences are not too significant, therefore, we can take the average value for the entire period as 1.20 g of calcium. Calcium digestibility is very high in early age periods (45-55%), then decreases to 20-25%. On average, over the entire growing period, a value of 40% can be taken as optimal.
Endogenous calcium losses in the early period of ontogenesis are unknown, but by analogy with laying hens they can be determined at 25 mg per day. The average daily weight gain for the period 1-150 days is 10 g. In this case, the formula for calculating the need takes the following form:
Ca (g/day) = A + B/C * 100,
where A is supporting calcium; B - calcium deposition, mg per day; C - calcium absorption, %.
Ca (g/day) = 0.025 + 0.120 / 40 * 100 = 0.35.
With an average feed intake of 4.3 kg over 150 days, the daily feed intake will be about 30 g. Calcium in the feed should contain no more than 1.2%.
Numerous experiments conducted in different countries of the world have shown that the level of calcium in chicken feed of 0.9-1.1% throughout the entire growing period ensures intensive growth, good skeletal mineralization, high feed costs and subsequent egg production. Officially recommended norms of Ca and P for young animals are given in Table 196.
When raising broiler chickens, the main task is to ensure maximum weight gain with minimal feed costs, in order to obtain a carcass with well-developed muscle tissue by the time of slaughter. In this case, the problem of calcium-phosphorus nutrition comes down to reducing skeletal mass as much as possible and thereby increasing the yield of meat parts of the carcass.
The corresponding recommendations for periods of growing broilers are given in Table 197. These recommendations are based on the results of scientific and practical experiments, but are well supported by factorial calculation data.
Thus, most authors are inclined to believe that the calcium level in complete feed should be (according to growing periods) 0.9-1.0 and 0.8-0.9% with a total phosphorus level of 0.7-0.8 and 0.6-0.7% respectively. Experiments conducted in our laboratory have shown that these standards can also be reduced by using well-digestible sources of calcium and phosphorus (Table 198).
Apparently, the minimum calcium content for broilers in the first growing period is 0.7-0.75%.
Turkeys, ducks, geese and other types of poultry. Information on the calcium and phosphorus requirements of other poultry species is given in tables 199 and 200.
The general trend in calcium nutrition of poultry (except for laying hens) in recent years is manifested in a decrease in calcium levels to acceptable limits and leveling out the needs of young animals of different ages (if possible for the entire growing period). In this regard, the standards adopted in the Soviet Union for young turkeys, geese and ducks apparently exceed the established optimum and need clarification.
Although sporadic, attempts are being made to normalize the calcium-phosphorus nutrition of ducks and turkeys depending on the amount of feed consumed and productivity (Table 201).
Sources of calcium and feeding methods. The source of calcium is partly natural food, especially of animal origin, and mainly mineral supplements (pure calcium or calcium-phosphorus). In the USA, coarse shells, fine-grained limestone, phosphates (dicalcium phosphate, defluorinated phosphates) are used; in Russia, European countries and Japan - chalk, shells, and defluorinated feed phosphates of various origins. In some cases, heat-treated eggshells are used. All these sources, at an optimal dosage level, are well absorbed by the bird’s body.
For early-age chickens, the more preferable sources of calcium are bone meal, dicalcium phosphate, defluorinated phosphates, and at a later age - shell, limestone, and chalk. Limestone is more effective than chemically pure calcium carbonate, and shells and shells are better eaten and digested by birds than chalk. Calcium absorption from grass meal is quite high - 75-90% of absorption from meat and bone meal. Calcium lactate and gluconate do not have any special advantages over carbonate. Calcium sulfate (gypsum), if necessary, can be used as a source of calcium, replacing 1/3 to 1/2 calcium carbonate in the diets of chickens and laying hens. Higher doses of sulfate cause undesirable consequences - diarrhea, loss of appetite, high moisture content of the litter. The use of calcium chloride is allowed only as a therapeutic agent, and not as a source of dietary calcium.
A long-term dispute between supporters of including all the calcium necessary for poultry in compound feed and supporters of additional calcium feeding ad libitum in separate feeders (self-regulation of consumption) ended in favor of the former. The inclusion of the entire amount of calcium in mixed feed is currently recognized as expedient from a technological, biological, and economic point of view. However, this technique gave rise to new problems in production.
It is known that in our country and in many foreign countries chalk is mainly added to feed. At the same time, to ensure the recommended level of calcium and the optimal Ca:P ratio, 0.7-1.5% chalk is added to the diets for young poultry, for broilers - 0.5-0.7%, and for laying hens - 6.5 -7.0% chalk, even in the presence of 6-7% animal feed.
The inclusion of large quantities of chalk creates an unfavorable physical structure of the feed, impairs its taste and palatability by birds. In addition, technological lines of mineral substances at feed mills are designed to introduce 4-5% chalk. Therefore, feed for laying hens is often produced with insufficient calcium content, and poultry farms are forced to add it to the feed, usually in the form of a shell. Shell is a complete mineral food for poultry, but since it is often contaminated and contains many whole shells, its absorption by the bird is small - about 1/3 of the given amount. In addition, adding shells to poultry feed at poultry farms complicates the mechanization of feed distribution, leads to additional labor costs and increases the likelihood of errors when balancing the mineral component of the diet. This question remains unresolved to this day. Possible ways to solve this problem are the inclusion of defluorinated feed phosphates (with a high Ca:P ratio) in the feed for young animals and laying hens, improving the quality of the mined shells, and developing technological lines that allow the introduction of finely crushed shells into the feed for laying hens.
It has been established that chickens are more willing to eat crushed shells than chalk or limestone chips, and that replacing part of the limestone (chalk) with shells increases egg production and the quality of egg shells (Table 202). It is assumed that coarse shell particles accumulate in the bird's crop and gizzard during the day, and are slowly resorbed at night, maintaining a high level of calcium in the blood. This increases the strength of the egg shell. All this, however, does not exclude the possibility of obtaining eggs with good shell quality without adding shells.
Criteria for the completeness of calcium nutrition in poultry. The criteria for the completeness of calcium nutrition of laying hens are: the level of egg production, feed use, egg weight, shell quality and the state of bone reserves.
The quality of the shell can be characterized by the specific gravity of the egg, the indicator of its elastic deformation, or the mass of the shell per unit of its surface (mg/cm3). These indices correlate well with the strength of the shell and its resistance to fracture. There is convincing evidence that laying hens require less calcium to maintain satisfactory or even high egg production than to achieve the best shell quality. Thus, the listed criteria are not absolutely equivalent and interchangeable.
The percentage of ash and calcium in bones does not always reflect the actual state of bone reserves, since mineral reserves may be depleted due to resorption rather than demineralization of bone tissue; the percentage of dry matter, ash, calcium and phosphorus remains unchanged. Hence, it is also necessary to take into account the ratio of bone mass to body mass or determine the content of ash, calcium and phosphorus not per unit mass, but per unit volume of bone. In bone demineralization, a good measure of mineral deficiency is the bone Ca:N ratio or the calcium concentration in dry lean bone.
X-ray studies of the skeleton of laying hens make it possible to determine the reserves of medullary bone tissue and the general condition of the skeleton at different stages of the egg cell, but the interpretation of these data (except in obvious cases of deficiency) is often difficult. Apparently, the increased consumption of medullary bone in highly productive laying hens is a natural process, and its low content cannot be considered as evidence of depletion of mineral reserves.
As for X-ray photometry (intravital determination of the content of calcium-phosphorus salts in the skeleton based on bone density), this method has not yet received wide distribution in poultry farming. Some authors note its lack of sensitivity and technical defects. It can also be noted that the metatarsal bone of laying hens is an unsuitable object for radiography and X-ray photometry, since this bone is slightly labile and does not reflect the dynamics of processes occurring in the skeleton as a whole. The tibia is more convenient for this purpose.
The main criteria for the completeness of calcium nutrition in young poultry are: weight growth, efficiency of feed use, ratio of bone mass to body weight, ash content in dry defatted tibia.
As additional criteria, you can also use the level of alkaline phosphatase in the blood and bone tissue, X-ray photometry data, and bone strength tests.
To ensure high-quality shell formation, increase the hatchability of chicks, and as a guarantee of the bird’s excellent well-being, you should carefully monitor the balance of its nutrition. This is due to the fact that the lack of certain microelements negatively affects the well-being of birds. It is especially important to notice signs of their deficiency at an early stage, and even better to take preventive measures to prevent vitamin deficiency.
Calcium and phosphorus interact closely in the bird’s body. A decrease in the amount of phosphorus causes a deterioration in the absorption of calcium, so it is usually customary to talk about phosphorus-calcium disorders.
Symptoms of deficiency
Calcium plays an exceptional role in the life of a bird, because it is the basis of the shell. As a result, this trace element is gradually eliminated from the body. According to some data, laying 6 eggs requires about 40% of the calcium reserves contained in the chicken skeleton. The main part of calcium is washed out from the chest and femur bones, ribs. Movable small bones are significantly less affected. As a result, rickets occurs, which is accompanied by a deterioration in appetite, growth disturbances, the appearance of an unsteady gait, lameness, and curvature of the spine and ribs. It is also possible that the beak will soften, the shell will become thinner, and the incubation properties of the eggs will deteriorate.
Prevention
Phosphorus
Symptoms of deficiency
The main sign of phosphorus deficiency in the body of laying hens is thinning of the shell, decreased egg production, decreased hatchability of chickens, and decreased body weight. Such processes occur despite the fact that the shell contains only 1% phosphorus.
Prevention
Feed phosphates should be introduced into the diet:
- dicalcium phosphate;
- tricalcium phosphate;
- monocalcium phosphate.
Bone meal is also a source of phosphorus.
Raising broilers nowadays is considered quite a profitable business. At low cost you can get not only tasty dietary broiler meat, but also eggs, down and feathers. Adding calcium borogluconate to broilers will help raise healthy poultry.
Calcium for chickens: description
Boron Ca gluconate for broilers is a product that can also be used for other domestic animals. You can buy it in a glass container. It looks like a yellowish liquid. The product contains components such as calcium gluconate, boric acid, sodium tetraboric acid and water. The drug is a medicine that does not cause allergies in birds.
To store the medicine, it is better to choose a dark place where the air temperature ranges from 6 to 25 degrees. Do not keep it near food or within reach of children.
Important! Calcium is of great importance for the body of birds, especially in the first months after hatching. If there is not enough of it, the birds become sick.
Calcium gluconate for broiler chickens is used when the chicks begin to walk independently. During this period, in addition to proper housing conditions and a balanced diet, the chicks need additional vitamins. The use of this medicine will help reduce the risk of death of young animals several times.
Calcium borogluconate for broilers
Prescribing calcium for broiler chickens will help avoid the development of such diseases:
- rickets;
- avitaminosis;
- serum sickness;
- spasmophilia;
- osteomalacia.
Note! Calcium borogluconate is often used by breeders when chickens stop laying eggs in winter.
This inexpensive product has the following properties:
- anti-inflammatory;
- antitoxic;
- antiseptic;
- desensitizing.
It is also worth noting that as a result of taking the medicine, blood flow in broilers returns to normal, metabolic processes in the body are activated, the functioning of the muscular system improves, and the function of the gastric epithelium is normalized. You can also get good results from taking calcium for laying hens if you have liver disease or severe food poisoning. The medicine is quickly absorbed throughout the body and begins to act actively.
Calcium borogluconate
Important! Signs that indicate a bird's poor condition include loss of eyeballs, death on the legs, and ruffled feathers. If they are detected, it is necessary to begin treatment immediately.
How to give calcium to broilers
Before you start using the drug, it is necessary to accurately determine the cause of the disease. For example, a spruce bird has noticeable discharge from its eyes in the form of cottage cheese, this indicates that it does not have enough vitamin A in its body. When it throws its head back and falls to the side, there is not enough vitamin B in the bird’s body.
The medicine must be used in accordance with the instructions. In these cases, it is recommended to add the drug to your drink. Calcium borgluconate for broilers is added to water at the rate of 3 ml of the drug per 1 liter of liquid.
Important! Chickens need to be given water until the symptoms of the disease disappear completely. To prevent broilers from dying immediately after birth, they need to be given calcium borogluconate dissolved in water on the first day. This will help to completely dissolve the remaining yolk that remains in the chicks’ stomach.
The medicine is recommended to be used not only for medicinal purposes, but also to prevent the development of vitamin deficiency. It can also be given as an injection under the skin. The injection must be given very slowly, otherwise the broiler's heart rate may be disrupted. Dosage of calcium chloride for broilers: 0.5 ml of medication should be used per 1 kg of live weight of the bird.
The product must first be warmed by holding it in your hand a little. The injection should be given into the subcutaneous folds or intravenously. No alcohol is used. If an injection of calcium borogluconate is performed intramuscularly, the possibility of tissue necrosis cannot be excluded.
Note! If the decision is made to use this drug, it should be given to the entire herd and not to individuals. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that a single dose will not give positive results. The course of taking calcium borogluconate must be completed in full. Only in this way can the desired effect be achieved.
Chicken injections
In parallel with the use of this drug, you can also give the birds vitamins, mineral supplements and vitamin complexes. This will only enhance the effect of the drug. Creating the right conditions for keeping birds is also important. Otherwise, it will be much more difficult to achieve a positive result when taking the medicine.
Contraindications
The medicine should not be given to birds diagnosed with hypercalcemia. If the dosage is violated, the pet may develop a dysfunction of the cardiac system. The following side effects are possible:
- diarrhea;
- vomit;
- weakness.
In such cases, it is necessary to stop taking the drug. Typically, these side effects go away on their own.
After contact with the product, you must strictly adhere to personal hygiene. Hands should be protected with sterile gloves. If the medicine accidentally gets on the skin, it should be rinsed thoroughly under running water. After completing a course of treatment or prevention using calcium borogluconate, poultry meat and eggs can be used for food.
Calcium borogluconate is recommended for broilers from birth. Adult birds can also take the medicine. Using the product for preventive purposes will help raise a healthy and strong broiler population.
Necessary nutrition for laying hens. Calcium, gravel, shells, apple cider vinegar, diatomaceous earth. Vitamins, minerals, tonics, nutritional supplements important for laying hens. Food for worms. How to pamper your chickens
Necessary feeding for laying hens
Calcium Laying hens constantly need it to form egg shells. IN feed for laying hens calcium is already contained, but this amount may not be enough, so it is recommended to give calcium additionally, in the form food additive to the diet of laying hens. Sources of calcium for laying hens are large shell rock(store bought as food supplement for chickens or collected on the seashore), ground bones, crushed chalk, crushed shells of shrimp and other seafood and crushed chicken egg shells (this is the calcium cycle in poultry farming!). Calcium must be constantly available to laying hens, otherwise the hens will have problems with the shells of the eggs they lay. Supplement with calcium or mixed with the main one feed for laying hens, either given in a separate feeder, or scattered throughout the walking area, where the chickens happily look for and select pieces from the ground. Calcium is completely dissolved in the esophagus of chickens.
Crushed gravel (pebbles) necessary for chickens and other birds to digest food in the stomach. Chickens grazing in open areas usually find the crumbled pebbles they need for digestion on their own, and for laying hens living in chicken coops or on limited ranges, it is necessary to scatter small pebbles on the surface of the ground or give them in a separate feeder.
Shells, shell rock- both a source of calcium and a ‘millstone for digesting food in the stomach’ for chicken. Coarsely ground feed shells- perfect food supplement for laying hens. Pure shell rock (a more expensive option) and shell rock mixed with finely crushed stone are available for sale.
Special anti-worm food for laying hens
As vitamin and mineral supplements in addition to the main feed of laying hens use:
- probiotics (live bacteria), which generally help improve the immunity of chickens and reduce the risk of salmonellosis;
- dried seaweed, which brighten the color of the yolk and strengthen the shell of eggs;
- as a tonic to improve the overall health and plumage of laying hens (added to chicken drinking water).
- cod liver oil (fish oil), promotes better egg production and plumpness of plumage, contains vitamins A and D, linoleic acid and Omega 3 fatty acids (added to the main feed for laying hens in the proportion of 1 tablespoon per 3 kg of feed once a week)
Special feed for laying hens ‘rescued’ from a poultry farm. Since raising laying hens from poultry farms is a fairly popular hobby in Britain, there is even special food for such chickens. Bird food from the poultry farm is supplied in loose and granular form and is formulated to provide everything that laying hens need in their new ‘free life’. Marketing? Maybe! On the other hand, anyone who has just seen almost naked chickens with deformed beaks “rescued” from a poultry farm will not soon forget this painful sight. On the packaging of feed for former laying hens from a poultry farm, which are called ex-bats (former battery chickens) it is said that it can be used as a general tonic for weakened, unhealthy or elderly domestic chickens.
Treats for laying hens
Dry worms from a pet store during the summer, as well as kitchen waste, as well as grain in the warm season - excellent treat for chickens, which can Occasionally be given to your laying hens in a SMALL QUANTITY. Like people, chickens must physically work off the calories they receive, otherwise they become overweight, which is contraindicated for laying hens. Obese laying hens stop laying eggs! To obtain valuable protein as a supplement, it is better to release the laying hens into the garden after the rain, where they will happily go searching, or give them the opportunity to walk around, where they will definitely find tasty fat worms and flies. Digging in the ground in search of food is the instinct and need of chickens; you just need to give the laying hens the opportunity to satisfy this need.
