A friend pointed out my chicken feed was missing a key ingredient

I was chatting with a buddy from my 4H club about my hens' feather condition last month. He asked if I was giving them any grit, and I admitted I only used layer crumbles. He said, "Chickens need grit to digest their food properly, even with pellets." I bought a bag of granite grit from Tractor Supply that weekend and mixed it into their feed. Their droppings look much better now, and their feathers are shinier. What other small feed additions have made a big difference for your flock?

2 comments

2 Comments

willow6725d ago

My Rhode Island Reds got way more energetic after I started adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to their water each week. I used to think it was just an old wives tale for gut health, but their eggshells got noticeably harder. A little bit of dried oregano in the feed seems to help keep their breathing clear too. It's wild how such cheap stuff can make a real difference.

henderson.mason4d ago

My Barred Rocks got way perkier too, @willow672, after mixing in some garlic powder with their feed.