Your chickens are constantly communicating their nutritional status - if you know what to look for! Let’s decode the visual signs of common deficiencies. PROTEIN DEFICIENCY 🪶Poor feather quality, ragged appearance 🪶Slow feather regrowth during molt 🥚Reduced egg production 🪶Cannibalism/feather pecking increases CALCIUM DEFICIENCY 🥚Thin, soft, or shell-less eggs 🥚Misshapen eggs 🐥Rickets in young birds (bowed legs, soft bones) 🐓“Cage layer fatigue” (weakness, unable to stand) VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY 💦Watery eyes, crusty discharge 🐥Poor growth in chicks 💨Increased respiratory infections 🥚Reduced egg production VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY 🐥Rickets (soft, bent bones) 🥚Thin eggshells despite adequate calcium 🐥Leg weakness in growing birds VITAMIN E/SELENIUM DEFICIENCY 🐔“Crazy chick disease” (head tremors, walking backward) ☠️Sudden death in young birds 🪶Poor feathering B VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES ➰Curled toe paralysis (Riboflavin) 🐥Dermatitis, crusty skin (Pantothenic acid) 🐓Perosis/slipped tendon (Manganese/Choline) 🐣Poor growth, weakness THIAMINE (B1) DEFICIENCY ✨“Star gazing” (head pulled back) ✨Neurological signs, convulsions Prevention is Key: ✓ Feed complete, formulated poultry feed (90% of diet!) ✓ Store feed properly (vitamins degrade over time) ✓ Use feed within 6-8 weeks of milling ✓ Supplement only when needed, not routinely Your turn: ❓Ever spotted a deficiency sign in your flock? What tipped you off? 👀 ❓What’s your feed storage situation - airtight containers, original bag, or “I should probably upgrade”? 🗑️

“My chickens have never had grit and they’re fine!” Let’s talk about what grit ACTUALLY is and why it matters for proper digestion. What IS Grit? Small, hard, insoluble stones that chickens store in their gizzard to grind food mechanically. Think of it as their “teeth” - because they don’t have any! Two Types - Don’t Confuse Them! INSOLUBLE GRIT (True Grit) 🪨Granite, flint, or commercial poultry grit 🪨Stays in gizzard permanently 🪨Grinds whole grains, seeds, fibrous material 🪨Slowly wears down and must be replaced SOLUBLE GRIT (NOT True Grit!) 🐓Oyster shell, limestone 🐓Dissolves quickly in digestive tract 🐓Provides CALCIUM, doesn’t grind food 🐓Does NOT substitute for insoluble grit! Do Chickens NEED Grit? YES if they eat: 🐤Whole grains (scratch, corn, wheat) 🐤Vegetation, grass, weeds 🐤Seeds, bugs with hard shells 🐤Anything fibrous or tough MAYBE NOT if: 🐥Fed ONLY commercial pellets/crumbles (already processed) 🐥No access to pasture or whole foods 🐥But access doesn’t hurt! How It Works: Food enters gizzard → muscular contractions → grit grinds food into paste → nutrients can be absorbed in intestine Without grit, whole grains pass through partially digested = wasted nutrition! Free-Range Myth: “My chickens free-range, so they find their own grit!” Maybe - depends on your soil! 🪨Rocky areas?Probably fine. 🏝️Sandy/clay soil? They may need supplemental grit. Best Practice: Offer free-choice insoluble grit year-round. Chickens self-regulate - they’ll eat what they need! Your turn: ❓Do you provide grit, or rely on free-ranging? 🪨 ❓What’s the most random thing you’ve seen your chickens pick up thinking it was grit? (Legos? Rocks the size of golf balls?) 😂

I hope everyone had an amazing Saturday and was able to spend it in rest. We went to church, took a nature walk and fellowshipped at a potluck just discussing His word and how we can grow in His Grace. May the Lord bless your week ahead!

Ever wonder why some chickens lay 300 eggs yearly while others barely hit 150? It's heavily in the genetics! Let's break down breed categories. PRODUCTION BREEDS (High Output) 🥚Egg layers: Leghorns, ISA Browns, Golden Comets 🥚Bred for maximum egg production (280-320 eggs/year!) 🥚Smaller body size, efficient feed conversion 🥚Shorter productive lifespan (1-3 years peak) 🥚Often flighty, less broody DUAL-PURPOSE BREEDS (Balanced) 🐤Examples: Plymouth Rocks, Orpingtons, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds 🐤Good egg production (200-280 eggs/year) + decent meat weight 🐤Calm temperaments, go broody more readily 🐤Longer productive lifespan 🐤Better foragers, hardier ORNAMENTAL/HERITAGE BREEDS (Beauty & Genetics) 🐔Examples: Silkies, Polish, Sebrights, Cochins 🐔Bred for appearance, show quality, or genetic preservation 🐔Lower egg production (100-180 eggs/year) 🐔Unique characteristics (feathered feet, crests, bantam size) 🐔Often excellent mothers, friendly pets ⚖️The Trade-Off: Research shows intensive selection for production traits often reduces: disease resistance, longevity, broodiness, and foraging ability. High producers need more management! Matching Breeds to Goals: 🐥Want maximum eggs? → Production breeds 🐥Backyard pets + decent eggs? → Dual-purpose 🐥Conservation + unique birds? → Heritage/ornamental Your turn: ❓What breed is your favorite and why? Personality, eggs, or looks? 🏆 ❓Ever been surprised by a breed not living up to (or exceeding!) its reputation? 😲

Can you smell your coop before you see it? That's ammonia - and it's more than just unpleasant, it's harming your flock! What IS Ammonia? A gas produced when bacteria break down nitrogen in chicken droppings. It's colorless but has that sharp, eye-watering smell. Why It's Dangerous: ☠️Damages respiratory tract lining (first defense against disease!) ☠️Increases susceptibility to respiratory infections ☠️Causes eye irritation and conjunctivitis ☠️Reduces growth rates and egg production ☠️Human health risk too! Dangerous Levels: ⚠️25-50 ppm: Eye and respiratory irritation begins ⚠️75+ ppm: Serious tissue damage occurs ⚠️If YOU can smell it, it's already too high! Where Ammonia Comes From: 🐓 Wet bedding (moisture + manure = ammonia production!) 🐓 Poor ventilation (gas gets trapped) 🐓 Overcrowding (more birds = more waste) 🐓 Infrequent cleaning Prevention Strategies: VENTILATION (Most Critical!) 💨Air exchange at ceiling level 💨Remove moisture-laden air continuously 💨Even in winter! DRY BEDDING 💦Fix water leaks immediately 💦Ensure proper drainage 💦Add fresh bedding to absorb moisture 💦Remove wet spots promptly REGULAR CLEANING 🧼Clean under roosts frequently (80% of droppings happen here!) 🧼Remove caked/wet bedding 🧼Don't let manure accumulate The Smell Test: If you smell ammonia when entering the coop, your chickens are breathing harmful levels 24/7! Your turn: ❓Honest check: Can you smell ammonia in your coop right now? 👃 ❓What's your cleaning schedule (no judgment)- weekly, monthly, seasonally, or "when it gets bad"?