For many consumers, choosing a good quality omega 3 chicken feed can seem like a daunting task. There are a number of brands that offer this type of nutrition, including Purina Layena+, Nature’s IQ, Murray’s, Tasco(r), and IQ Naturals. But which one is right for your flock? Here are some of the pros and cons of each. Which is better? Read on to find out!
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Purina Layena+
Layena Plus Omega-3 is a vegetarian formula with a high calcium content, and it is designed specifically for top-laying hens. Layena Plus Omega-3 contains 250mg of Omega-3 per egg and should be fed exclusively to laying hens for at least three weeks to see the greatest benefit. This feed has no added hormones or antibiotics, and is a 100 percent vegetarian formula.
Layena Plus Omega-3 Layer Pellets are a premium poultry feed formulated for optimum nutrition. The added flaxseed increases the amount of Omega-3 fatty acids in the eggs. In fact, a typical store-bought egg contains approximately 50 mg Omega-3. With this feed, your hens will lay more eggs and have healthier eggs. And because Layena is a vegetarian ration, it is completely safe for the animals to eat.
Nature’s IQ
As its name suggests, “IQ” chicken contains a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acids. In addition to the 1,300 milligrams of omega-3 in skin-on thigh meat, Nature’s IQ chicken is also packed with plant-based ALA, an essential nutrient found in many plant foods. While dietary experts recommend fish oil or fatty fish as the best sources of omega-3, we don’t know what exactly goes into a typical chicken breast.
Despite recent findings suggesting that an imbalance of essential fatty acids is responsible for a variety of modern diseases, there is no scientific proof to support this conclusion. Nonetheless, the IQ Chicken represents a new approach to contemporary human nutrition. It is based on a return to the diet of animals in their natural habitat. Rather than rejecting modern animal agriculture and automation processes, the company focuses on restoring the natural fat balance.
Murray’s
A poultry purveyor in South Fallsburg, NY, has made a splash with a new product: omega-3 enriched chicken feed. Omega-3 fatty acids are linked to heart health and brain function. Salmon is a popular source of omega-3 fatty acids, but chicken does not contain them in such high amounts. So, Murray’s Chicken worked with local farmers to create an omega-3-enriched blend that chicken can eat.
In addition to putting Omega-3s into chicken feed, Murray’s has developed a line of products that contain naturally occurring omega-3s. This product contains a unique blend of vitamins, minerals, and prebiotics. Prebiotics promote healthy gut bacteria that aid in the immune system. Seaweed is an excellent source of omega-3s and is an added benefit to Murray’s chicken feed. This product is the first of its kind in the poultry industry to be certified humane.
Tasco(r) seaweed
One way to boost your chicken’s omega 3 intake is by adding a supplement to their diet. Seaweed such as Tasco(r) has a lot of benefits for poultry. Not only does it contain amino acids in small amounts, but it is also rich in prebiotics, which are beneficial to a chicken’s immune system. This makes it an excellent choice for adding omega 3s to poultry feed.
Other benefits of seaweed include its ability to accumulate important micro and macro-elements. Specifically, it is a rich source of zinc, selenium, iron, potassium, and magnesium, which are essential for proper animal development. Although seaweeds are rich in ash, they are highly digestible and are highly bioavailable. In addition, they have antioxidant properties. While the inclusion rate of Tasco(r) seaweed in chicken feed is much higher than the control group, it is still worth the price.
AlvelTM
To maximize omega-3 concentration in poultry meat, AlvelTM chicken feed includes four key ingredients. Seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) provides essential minerals, vitamins, and prebiotics. Good gut health contributes to a robust immune system, so chickens should be given the most nutritious diet possible. UFAC-UK has partnered with innovative egg producers and progressive suppliers to transfer nutritional benefits to end consumers in the UK. One such company is St Ewe Eggs in Cornwall, UK, which packs more than one million eggs per week. By testing the feed’s algae residues, St Ewe Eggs was able to find an effective and efficient method of producing a super nutritious egg for everyday consumers.
