[chickychick]

Hi
I have been adding diatom to my girls feed and coop and giving them a sprinkle over their feathers when they are in bed at night to ward off nasties.

However I am wondering how much I should be adding to thier feed and how to feed it and how often.  According to aunties sticky:

'It can be added to animal feed at a rate of 5% to combat intestinal worms '

Trouble is I dont know if this is 5% of weight of dry feed/pellets?
Do you give it in a mash or is it just put dry over the layers pellets?
Also how often do you give it at this rate?

I do intend to use flubenvet about once a year as well, however I would like to be able to use the diatom effectively since I have a nice big 5kg tub of it from ebay.

I have 4 chickens all laying and eating - layers pellets every day, plus a handful of corn most evenings and occasional scraps, and greens most days they also get to have about an hour a day scratching about in the garden or in their play pen on the lawn.

They are well and perky I am just adding this as a precaution

Hope someone can help

[Aunty]

It's best given in wet food as there is some thought that it may cause lung damaged if inhaled too much, which would happen if added to pellets.  I only use it in the dustbath and in nooks and crannies in the hen's coop.

[chickychick]

aha so I need to learn to make up a mash of some sort??? Never tried this yet

hmm any clues ....I am sure it will be here on the site somewhere on how to make a mash for chickens can anyone aim me please

[Aunty]

Some people give their hens mashed potato or porridge but I prefer to give a proper layers mash which is much more nutritious for them.

Layers mash:Water -  5:3 proportion.  I use hot water then you don't need to leave it to soak, just mix it.

As I've said I don't give Diatom in the diet, justin the dustbath nd nooks and crannies in the coop to prevent lice and mitesto them.  I worm with flubenvet.

[chickychick]

Thanks aunty I gave them their first mash as described and added a bit of corn currents and other yummy stuf and they loved it.

[Aunty]

Thanks aunty I gave them their first mash as described and added a bit of corn currents and other yummy stuf and they loved it.

Sounds great, Hmmm... I was wondering what to give Worzel for dinner