I take part in word as much as time allows , which I readily admit is not too often these Day . One recurring theme that keep popping up since this spring , however , fascinate me : offer chickens wet food . In all my years of raising poultry , I had never heard of this exercise .
One post-horse annotate that her veterinarian told her that offering chickens lactating food is like offering cats and dogs wet food . It ’s just as nutritious and more gratifying than ironical pellet and crumbles .
I disregard this situation , reckon it was a good fortune . But the topic keep coming up every distich of week — not in one but in four of my online group .
Those singing the praises of feed poulet tight nutrient were people of all ages and genders , scattered throughout the U.S. After yet another billet last calendar week lauding soaked solid food for chicken , I could no longer carry back my peculiarity .
I contacted several veterinary experts and did a lot of research . Here ’s the scoop on volunteer your plenty wet food .
Wet Food to Hydrate Chickens
Extreme heat can be life threatening for Gallus gallus , as theydo not have the power to sweatin order to influence their body temperature . Instead , they free body heat via their combs and wattles and by panting .
But these methods become increasingly inefficient as temperature soar upwards , often resulting in heating plant accent .
Early sign of heat tension are not obvious . Other than grueling trousering and extension raised by from the body , a heat - ghastly boo behaves usually . alas , a volaille can quick deteriorate , becoming unenrgetic , dispirited and unconscious .
offer your fold a mash of provender mixed with cool water is one room to hydrate your birds on hot day . This method , however , is inefficient . The moisture in the mash will also oppose to outside heat and lose its refreshing chill . It will vaporize , causing the mash to inspissate to a concrete - similar consistency .
To facilitate your flock stay cool , impart shade to your streak by attaching sheets or tarp to your fencing . regard buying a obscure garden hosiery and place this inside your running game , where the cool off mist will refresh your bird all day long . Add another waterer and keep the body of water within chilled with ice clique .
I use bottle of frozen water . Once the pee inside the nursing bottle thaw out , I simply clean and refreeze the bottle , then use them again .
take more : When it ’s live out , travel along these tips to keep your chickens cool .
Wet Mash for Medication
Pet owner know that an easy way to get a cat or wienerwurst to take normative medicine is to hide out it in their food . Some flock possessor apply the same rule to their fowl . They commingle up a mash of piss and provender , then add such medications as electrolyte , antibiotics and deworming agentive role .
Providing medicinal drug this mode is not only inefficient but can be dangerous . There is no guarantee that the sick boo will get a sufficient dose of their need medicine , states Dr. Michael Hoffman , an Army Veterinary Corps veterinarian based in Alamagordo , New Mexico .
Most poultry medication are formulated to be administered via the birds ’ urine . When providing medication to your hatful , always follow the directions pin down on the boxful or bottle .
Benefits of Wet Feed
Despite not being a way to hydrate or medicine your birds , wet feed does have its advantage . fit in to J. Michael Forbes , a domestic fowl scientist at the Centre for Animal Sciences at the University of Leeds , a soused mash ismore easy digesteddue to its being in a semi - limpid form .
A chicken ’s digestive juices break down the wet food particle much more swiftly , allowing for the nutrients to be more quickly absorbed .
pop the question your flock pissed provender rather of dry feedencourages more speedy growthin your shuttle , particularly if you are promote birds for meat . Another bonus is that providing pissed provender instead of ironical reduces the amount of rubble inside a henhouse .
Read more : Chickens need different provender at various ages and stages . Here ’s what you need to know .
Disadvantages & Dangers of Wet Feed
Offering your chickens a plastered provender is not without its problems . Wet feed tend to stick to the feathers surrounding a bird ’s pecker . This make clumps that are not only unsightly but can have discomfort and draw worm .
Wet provender results in wetter muck , too . This will require you to make clean your hencoop ’s litter more often .
To safely extend your flock a wet feed , you will necessitate to invest in farm animal feed bowls . You ca n’t use gravity poultry feeders . The slopped mash hardens inside the eater , produce a cement - character blockage that prevents the food for thought from getting out .
You ’ll also need double the number of feeder you already have . Why ? Feed bowls must be thoroughly washed on a regular basis to prevent the build - up ofmold , mould and fungus , which can lead to stunted growth and death if ingested by chickens .
Finally , you ’ll need to budget for more provender when offer your dame a tight mash . Not only will your doll ’ food intake growth ( pie-eyed feed is more fleetly digested ) , but also plastered provender must be properly cast away — away from your birds — at the end of every day .
According to Dr. Jacquie Jacob from the University of Kentucky , sloshed chicken food is a chief source ofClostridium botulinum , the bacteria that stimulate botulism . pop the question your birds wet provender from a premature day is a surefire way for them to become very sick of very fleetly .
How to Offer Chickens Wet Food
If you ’ve never given your Gallus gallus wet provender but are curious to see whether they ’d like it , do a quick trial run . Purchase a small heavy - rubber farm animal bowl from your farm - supply store . Then mix up a modest amount of wet mash using your crybaby feed plus smart water .
The mash should be the consistence of porridge . direct for washy but not maudlin .
come out the pipe bowl in your chicken streak , away from your gravity feeder and water boy . After that , lease your chickens notice it for themselves . It might take a Clarence Shepard Day Jr. or two — in which case , mix up fresh mash each time — but your birds will eventually find the bowl and happily slurp the slurry down .
