Hello Chicken Keepers!
Even with this winter weather, keeping our backyard chooks hydrated is an important responsibility for all bum nut bandits. When your chickens are ill, overheated, broody or injured access to fresh water is even more important than normal. At times like this, you can up the hydration ante with an easy to make and administer electrolyte mix and keep your girls flappin’ fit, ready to cluck another day.
Give this recipe a try next time your feathered friends are on the fritz.
4 litres of water
1 tablespoon of sugar or molasses or runny honey
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 teaspoon of salt
½ cup of coconut water (source of potassium chloride)
OR 1 teaspoon potassium chloride (available from health stores)
1 clove crushed garlic to boost their immune system
Mix all these goodies together until the ingredients have dissolved and incorporated into the water (usually I dissolve the honey, sugar or molasses in a cup of warm water first to get it mixed evenly into the bucket of water).
You can have this as your flocks’s daily water supply or administer it to unwell chickens or baby chicks with a saline syringe.
Preventing illnesses and keeping your chooks safe and make sure that you've got the knowledge you need to raise a happy, healthy flock. Did you know 67% of chicken keepers surveyed experienced a chicken health or behaviour issue in the first 12 months that they didn’t know how to handle?
But don’t worry! Our feathered friends over at Chickenpedia have created a Chicken Healthcare Course. It is a comprehensive online course that covers everything you need, including what to look for in an unhealthy chicken and how to support your egg-laying hens to optimal health. All of their courses are really well structured, which is why I highly recommend them to all of my readers! From raising baby chicks to feeding to behavior, you’ll find valuable information that’ll give you the knowledge and confidence to successfully look after your chickens.
Check out Chickenpedia today. As a member, you will also get access to the ALL of their chicken courses!
Looking for more hen health tips? Have a look here and take a peek at our First Aid Kit suggestions.
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Feathers Forever,
Kassandra x
