{"id":3507,"date":"2021-01-19T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-19T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/?p=3507"},"modified":"2021-02-17T08:12:33","modified_gmt":"2021-02-17T14:12:33","slug":"supplements-you-can-give-your-chickens-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/chikchikchicken.com\/index.php\/2021\/01\/19\/supplements-you-can-give-your-chickens-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Supplements You Can Give your Chickens in Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Winter is here and the girls have just finished molting. Some of our girls are still looking a bit rough. If you\u2019re like me, you want to do something or add something to their diet. You may be wondering, what type of supplements you can give your chickens in winter?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I may earn a small commission on products purchased. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mealworms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If your girls free-range, they may not be finding the number of bugs in winter that they are used to having in their diet. Mealworms<\/a>, being high in protein,\u00a0are a great supplement to give your chickens in winter. I recently bought a bag that also had soldier fly larvae mixed in and the girls liked that just as well.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Herbs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Herbs make great supplements you can give your chickens in winter Some of my favorites are: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turmeri<\/a>c has become a popular nutritional supplement for the last few years because of all the medicinal properties it has. So not only is it good for you but also good for your chickens. It\u2019s an anti-inflammatory that aids in respiratory infections, and digestive issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Oregano<\/a> is a great supplement for overall health. It contains a ton of anti-oxidants, anti-bacterial properties, helps boost the immune system, and is anti-parasitic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basil helps elevate mood, is also an anti-inflammatory, and supports liver and heart health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinnamon is loaded with antioxidants and helps repair damaged tissue. It\u2019s also an anti-inflammatory that helps lower the risk of heart disease<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garlic has disease-fighting properties, is a natural antibiotic, and also contains anti-oxidants. You can crush fresh garlic and add to water (4 cloves per gallon) or add garlic powder to the feed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fruit <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Our girls love blueberries, bananas, and grapes. They used to really like strawberries but not so much anymore. During the winter, when I find these on sale. I\u2019ll grab extra to share with the girls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t give any citrus fruit. It’s believed that large amounts of citrus fruits can cause internal bleeding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Greens<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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With winter, there\u2019s not much of anything green in our yard so we grow kale for the chickens. Another good option is collards. Spinach is okay in moderation but too much can interfere with calcium absorption. Skip iceberg lettuce since it doesn\u2019t have many nutrients. Your chickens will appreciate anything green you can offer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next year I\u2019m going to try growing sprouts or fodder<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We consume all these herbs on a regular basis and I\u2019m still learning about the health benefits and how they apply to chickens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peppers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cayenne pepper contains lots of antioxidants and is an anti-inflammatory as well. Old-timers believe it keeps hens laying through winter. I rarely give it so I can\u2019t say if that\u2019s true or not. Our girls haven\u2019t laid since Thanksgiving, so I\u2019m thinking about adding some to their feed this week and see if I can kickstart their laying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also supplement with green or red bell pepper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scratch<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scratch grains are great for keeping your chickens warm in winter. They are high in carbs so when digesting it raises their internal body temperature. I give around 4 pm each day as a treat before sundown and sometimes in the morning if it\u2019s been an extremely cold night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Probiotics in Water<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Probiotics or Vitamins<\/a> in water are great to do in Winter. When giving probiotics in water, I like to offer plain water in an additional container.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make a Mash <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can make a mash once a week from oatmeal or layer feed. I like using the powdery leftover layer feed (that way I don\u2019t feel like I\u2019m wasting). Warm it up and your chickens will love it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also add: <\/p>\n\n\n\n