understanding the vitamins we use in our fowl part 1 this is something that may help a few understand the dos and donts of the usage of vitamins in our fowl and how and when to use them the best way i can explain it. vitamins are divided into two groups : fat soluble and water soluble fat soluble vitamins [A,D,E,K] these vitamins are retained in the body fat and used as they are needed. water soluble vitamins [C and B COMPLEX] these vitamins are[NOT] stored in the body ,which only uses what it immediately needs and expels any excess in the droppings. that is the reason water soluble vitamins need to be replenished more often than fat soluble vitamins. of all the vitamins or nutrients chickens are more likely to be deficient in vitamins A,D,and B2 [riboflavin]. a vitamin supplement will give your fowl a boost during times of stress such as when there bodies are battling a disease when the weather is unpleasant during travel to and from a derby before and after a derby and during breeding season chicks will get off to a good start you give them a vitamin supplement the first 3 weeks of there life. part 2 fat soluble vitamin info vitamin A vit A is needed or vision,growth and bone development. it is called the anti-infection vitamin because it helps maintain the immune system. it also aids in disease resistance by playing a role in maintaining the linings of the digestive system,reproductive ,and respiratory system. vitamin A deficiency is unlikely to result from improper diet,but may be caused by a health condition that interferes with nutrient absorption,such as coccidiosis or worm infestation. vitamin A deficiency can also cause nutritional roup which produces symptoms similar to those of infectious bronchitis or infectious coryza. it can also cause the upper digestive tract to develop blisters resembling those of fowl pox. the damage caused to the linings of the upper digestive and resiratory tracts can open the door to bacterial or viral invasion. deficiency increases the severity of respiratory infections bronchitis and chronic respiratory disease [CRD] and increases a chickens susceptibility to parasites like COCCIDA. cod liver oil mixed into the feed at the rate of 2 percent is a good source of vit.A DONT GO OVER BOARD - VIT. A CAN BE TOXIC IF TO MUCH IS GIVEN TO POULTRY. part 3 vitamin D is necessary for the absorption of calcium to make strong bones ,beaks,claws and eggshells. our fowl synthesizes vit D from the sunshine,making deficiency more likely in fowl that are caged or housed in a place thats not got access to a proper amount of sunlight. deficiency can also occur in fowl fed rations intended for other livestock,since chickens need vit. D3 while most other stock require vit D2. some more of the signs of vitamin D deficiency a continuing cycle of normal egg production followed by the appearance of thin- soft shelled eggs followed by a drop in egg production followed by a return to normal production. a deficient hen may have weak legs right before she lays an egg ,causing to squat in a penguin like stance. if the deficiency is not corrected her beak , claws ,and keel will become soft and the eggs will be small with reduction in hatch ability. a chickens need for vitamin d is closely tied to its needs for the minerals calcium and phosphorus. a deficiency in any of these 3 minerals can also result in rickets [in young birds ] IT CAN ALSO CAUSE EGG EATING. excess vitamin D causes kidney damage. 1 sign of too much vit D in a hens diet is calcium pimples on eggshells when scraped off leave little holes in the shells. deficiency of vitamin D can easily be corrected by adding cod liver oil at 2% rate to the feed or by adding vitamin A,D&E POWDER TO THE DRINKING WATER THREE TIMES A WEEK. part 4 vitamin E is necessary for normal reproduction and resistance to ESHERICHIA COLI INFECTION [COLIBACILLOSIS]. vitamin E in fortified rations degenerates rapidly ,especially when temperature and humidity are high. deficiency is most likely to occur in confined young birds fed a deit thats high in soy bean oil or cod liver oiland in birds fed a rations containing rancid fats. deficiency in chicks and young fowl can result in encephalomalacia, exudative diathesis,or WHITE MUSCLE DISEASE. I THINK THIS PERTAINS TO SOME OF THE GUYS WHO HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE MAINTAINING A GOOD BREAST ON THEIR COCKS. JUST MY OPINION OR THOUGHT IT CAN ALSO CAUSE LOSS OF FERTILITY IN COCKS. WHEAT GERM OIL IS A GOOD SOURCE TO HELP CORRECT THIS PROBLEM ,WHEN USED FRESH. AND ALSO I THINK THE SOAKED OATS A GOOD STARTING POINT WOULD BE THE 2% MIXED OVER THE FEED METHOD WHEN USING TO WHEAT GERM OIL. OR SOAKED OATS MIX WITH FEED DAILY PART 5 vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting. signs of deficiency are profuse bleeding from slight wounds and internal bleeding under the skin or into the body cavity. alafalfa pellets or leaves are a good source of vitamin K when mixed into the daily feed.this is all that is needed. i personally dont use or inject a cock with vit k other than the alfalfa pellets mixed in the feed. i have bad experiences when injected ,causing the cocks not to be able to throw a rattle when used in gaff just my opinion part 1 water soluble vitamins vitamin B IS ACTUALLY A WHOLE GROUP OF UNRELATED SUBSTANCES WHOSE NAMES CHANGE SO OFTEN NOW DAYS ITS HARD FOR ME TO KEEP UP WITH THEM! here is sort of a break down on B COMPLEX THE BEST WAY I CAN EXPLAIN IT THIAMIN [B1] source = whole grain cereal grains RIBOFLAVIN [B2] source = leafy greens,grass,yeast, milk PYRIDOXINE[B6] source = all the above and below stated in the b group NICOTINIC ACID source = meat protein,whole grain [NIACIN] PANTOTHENIC ACID source = all the above and below stated in the b group BIOTIN[H] source = brewers yeast,leafy greens,molasses INOSITOL source = all the above and below stated in the b group PARA-AMINO source = yeast and many others stated here BENZOIC ACID CHOLINE source = many sources found here FOLIC ACID source =leafy greens B12 source = meat protein part 2 vitamin B deficiency was not a problem back in the days when cockers could walk their cocks and free range their fowl. the fowl was able to roam free and pick in cow patties and horse apples and even the old out door john in some cases.lol health problems seem to occur more often in confined fowl . back in the old days lots of the good breeders and feeders tossed horse or cow manure in the pens. but no one new why it worked until around 1948 ,researchers discovered that manure contains vitamin B12. also i like horse manure that comes off of stud horse ranches because theY give a lot of vitamins and male hormones to the horses,and they feed lots of oats that go throw the horse partly digested that are saturated with all these goodies for my cocks and rest of the yard as far as that goes. the B12 vitamin is unique among nutrients in that it is almost exclusively found in animal products. deficiency can occur more often in housed or caged chickens, especially those fed to much soy meal in their diet as a main source of protein. CURL TOE PARALYSIS IN CHICKS IS A SIGN OF RIBOFLAVIN [B2] DEFICIENCY ,OCCURRING WHEN PENNED BROOD HENS ARE FED UNSUPPLEMENTED LAY RATIONS. GREENS INCLUDING GRASS ARE A GOOD SOURCE OF RIBOFLAVIN. MILK ,WHEY AND OTHER DAIRY PRODUCTS WHEN USED IN VERY SMALL AMOUNT CAN HELP. YOU MUST BE VERY CAREFUL USING THE MILK IT WILL CAUSE DIARRHEA ,AND DEHYDRATE THE FOWL. I WOULD RECOMMEND USING A LITTLE CALF MANNA IF I HAD A PROBLEM OR NEED B12 ADDED TO THEIR DIET. BUT I USE THE B COMPLEX INJECTED , IF YOU GIVE TOO MUCH YOU WILL KNOW IT BY THE COLOR OF THEIR DROPPINGS [IT WILL TURN A BRICK RED COLOR] JUST MY OPINION PART 3 VITAMIN C HELPS PREVENT DISEASES BY REDUCING THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF STRESS chickens make their own vitamin C and do not need a supplement except when the abosorption of vitamin C and nutrients are inhibited by stress. stress from high temperatures moving conditioning very hard travel times are excessive most any very stressful condition you place the cock in. dont run out and waist your money on them bullchit stress pills regular old vitamin c tablets sold a walmart is just as good and probably better give one or half of one ,once a week if think your cocks need help with stress during the keep ,get the ones for kids . COCK AVERAGE 5 POUNDS NOT 100 POUNDS! some really high strung cocks can benefit from a little vit C during the keep ,just dont go over board just my opinion THIS IS TO TRY AND HELP SOME TO UNDERSTAND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VITAMIN AND MINERALS AND HOW WE USE THEM. while vitamins are made from organic plant and animal matter MINERALS ARE INORGANIC ELEMENTS THEY GIVE BONES RIGIDITY AND STRENGTH AND THEY INTERACT WITH OTHER NUTRIENTS TO KEEP THE BODY HEALTHY. caged or confined birds are more likely to have mineral deficiencies. BUT UNLIKE VITAMINS ,MINERALS DO NOT GO STALE. MOST COMERICAL FEEDS CONTAIN ADEQUATE AMOUNTS ,WITH THE POSSIBLE EXCEPTION OF CALCIUM THIS IS ONE REASON I TELL PEOPLE DONT OVER DO THE RED CELL ,IT WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD WHEN YOU DONT USE IT PROPERLY. calcium and phosphorus are needed by chicks for bone formation and by hens for egg formation. calcium and phosphorus are interrelated and both require some vitamin D to be metabolized. a deficiency in vitamin D can cause a deficiency of calcium and / or phosphorus. go to part 2 of this post part2 on post about minerals no mater what the cause a deficiency of calcium and phosphorus increases a chickens susceptibility to paracitic infection. beetles and other hard shelled bugs contain lots of calcium and phosphorus and protein ,but they also can be a source of parasitic infection. a good supplement of calcium is ground oyster shells or limestone,but dont use the dolomitic limestone cause it can stop egg production. older hens need more calcium than younger hens ,AND ALL HENS NEED MORE CALCIUM IN WARM WEATHER. if the eggshells feel rough that is a sign of too much calcium. part 3 minerals magnesium is needed for bone formatiom ,eggshell formation AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME IS THE METABOLISM OF CARBOHYDRATES. A CHICKENS DIET IS MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TOO MUCH MAGNESIUM THAN TO LITTLE ,CAUSING THEM TO HAVE DIARRHEA AND SMALLER EGGS WITH THIN SHELLS. Part 4 copper which red cell vitaman used on horse feed has a lot ,that is the thing about red cell ,somepeople just dont understand how potent or concentrated that stuff is with the heavy medals ,so very little goes a long way. copper deficiency can cause the loss of feather color and the big one is it has something in common with manganese, the METABOLIISM OF both are affected by coccidiosis. Part 5 minerals manganese is needed for normal bones ,for good eggshell quality and the big one, it helps to prevent slip tendons. Part 6 potassium a deficiency can occur during times of extreme heat and stress resulting in weak cocks also a drop in egg production and thin shells Part 7 selenium deficiency is associated with white muscle disease an excess of selenium increases susceptibility to salmonellosis i read a study the poultry industry was doing on this several yrs ago . They were saying corn and other grain grown east of the mississippi river may be low in selenium and in the north west where the soil is selenium deficient. Grains grown in canada and the great plains contain an excess of selenium. Dont know for sure just read it.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 05:12:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015