Vitamin Mineral Supplement For Chickens

 

Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Chickens

Chickens are enjoyable and productive animals to raise, whether you have a large farming enterprise or a little backyard coop. However, learning how to care for them is critical, which includes providing the necessary vitamins and minerals. Chickens, like humans, have specific nutritional requirements. Except for vitamin C, chickens require all of the same vitamins as humans. Vitamin Mineral Supplement For Chickens They rely substantially on minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Any of these deficiencies can have serious effects on the health and well-being of your flock.

• Water-soluble B vitamins
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin D
• Calcium
• Potassium
• Phosphorus

Essential Vitamins and Minerals for Chickens

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is easy for free-range chickens to obtain, as it is sourced from leafy greens. They have easy access to the fields. For those chickens kept in pens, there must be supplements or feed offered that are high in Vitamin A.

Vitamin A is necessary for normal growth, proper vision, a healthy immune system, and reproduction and maintenance of epithelial cells. 

A deficiency in Vitamin A can lead to overall weakness and a lack of growth. You will see a marked decrease in egg production. 

Vitamin D

Your chickens require Vitamin D in their diet in direct correlation to how much calcium and phosphorus they have. Like us, they obtain this vitamin in two ways: from their feed and from direct interaction with sunlight. It is essential for growth and bone and eggshell development.

If your chickens are inside, the light filtering through the window’s glass cannot boost Vitamin D intake. The panes prevent the UV rays from entering, which produce the vitamin upon interacting with the birds’ skin.

When your chickens do not receive enough Vitamin D in their diets, their eggs will be thin-shelled, and production will be reduced. Growth will be slowed, and you will see cases of rickets.

Vitamin E

To maintain proper levels of Vitamin E in your chickens’ diets, you will likely have to add supplementary foods. These include dandelion, nettle, chard, sunflower seeds, spinach, and pumpkin seeds.

If chickens become deficient in Vitamin E, it can result in enlarged hocks and encephalomalacia, commonly known as crazy chick disease.

Vitamin K

In addition to what vitamins are available in the feed you provide your chickens, they can also receive Vitamin K from leafy green vegetables. These include spinach, kale, lettuce, asparagus, and cabbage.

Vitamin K is essential for the support of a healthy immune system. It functions as an antioxidant and supports normal neurological functions. It’s also beneficial in keeping your skin and eyes healthy.

Not enough Vitamin K can result in intramuscular bleeding and instances of prolonged clotting. Signs will usually develop within two to three weeks of the onset. 

Thiamine (B1)

The primary sources of thiamine are brewer’s yeast and cereal grains. Soybean, peanut, and cottonseed meals also offer relatively high sources of thiamine. A thiamine deficiency leads to a loss of appetite and eventual death.

Chickens can have an increased requirement for thiamine based on several factors, including high-carbohydrate diets, moldy feed consumption, or a fish-based meal. This vitamin is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and energy transport through the cells.

Riboflavin (B2)

Riboflavin is essential for energy maintenance, metabolism, and blood cell health. It also functions as an antioxidant. The primary sources of this vitamin include brewer’s yeast, yams, eggs, starchy vegetables, grasses, fish, and non-citrus fruits.

Without sufficient riboflavin, your chickens can develop curly-toe paralysis and experience a negative impact on growth and egg production.

Pantothenic Acid

Your chickens need pantothenic acid to process carbohydrates and fat in their regular diet. Common sources of this B vitamin are eggs, dairy products, grains, and legumes.

A pantothenic acid deficiency leads to dermatitis. You’ll also see lesions on the chickens’ mouths and feet.