Poulin Grain, a fourth-generation family feed company from Vermont, produces high quality feed products designed to meet the unique demands of the Northeast. Their feeds offer industry-leading research and exceptional customer service – so much so that Mackey’s is proud to carry their equine, dairy, pet and poultry feed products!
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Shell Grit
All breeds of chickens require daily access to grit as it forms part of their digestive system and strengthens egg shell strength. Hens don’t have teeth; their food must be ground up using their gizzard and the calcium provided from grit helps them do this effectively. Grit also boosts calcium levels – both aspects that play key roles in maintaining good hen health and shell integrity.
Shell grit is the optimal form of grit to use when providing this essential service – this contains tiny whole and broken up seashells found naturally on beaches around Australia that range in size from fine, consistent whiteness to coarsely mixed material.
Coarse shell grit can serve as an inviting bowl for chickens to nibble at in their leisure, conveniently placed near their food source. Meanwhile, fine grade grit has more of a dust-like consistency, and may be mixed into their food or placed into nesting boxes instead of bowls; however, its cleanup requires more work and can’t be composted.
Medicated Feeds
Medicated feeds are designed to treat or control specific diseases, such as bacterial infections and parasitic infestations, while also improving livestock’s health and productivity.
Feeding medicated feed to animals is one of the most effective and convenient ways of administering drugs to them, yet can release drug residues into the environment that pose a threat both to people and wildlife as they accumulate in watersheds and other environmental media.
Manufacturers of medicated feed should adhere to current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMPs) to ensure the safety and quality of their products, helping producers meet regulations while decreasing contamination risks at feed mills. Medicated feeds are defined as commercial feeds containing new animal drugs used in total mixed ration systems or top-dressed supplemental feeding systems such as TMR or topdressed TSF feeding, such as monensin for increasing milk production efficiency in dairy cattle or melamine for mitigating severe cases of Coccidiosis/Rotavirus in young ruminants – two examples which exist to help manufacturers adhere to regulations and reduce risks in feed mills.
Dry Mash
Dry Mash is a ready-to-feed tonic designed to promote natural health, increase egg production and aid your chickens’ wellbeing. Packed with essential nutrients and multistrain probiotics for gut health and firming excrement formation. Mix it with warm water or high quality Apple Cider Vinegar at 1:4 ratio between dry mix to liquid mix (60g dry mix to 140mls liquid mix). Refrigerate any unused mixture and use on the same day!
Combine wheat bran and boiling water to produce a dry mash that you can feed your birds as part of their regular diet or supplement it with. Studies have demonstrated this method increases ME and crude protein digestibility similar to pelleting; additionally it improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) and weight gain compared to chickens fed mashes only (Vanschoubroeck et al, 1971). Crumble or pellet feed can also include this blend!
Oatmeal
Oatmeal is an ideal and delicious addition to the diet of your flock, and they absolutely love it. Use it alone or mix in additional ingredients such as berries, green beans, unsalted nuts, crack corn or mealworms to increase appeal and nutritional value. Add garlic powder for additional antioxidant benefits or cinnamon for frostbite prevention during cold weather weather conditions.
Oats are an excellent source of fiber that can support digestive health in your flock, while also providing beta-glucans that slow food transit through the intestines and contribute to overall wellbeing. Oats offer chickens calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese manganese, phosphorus protein as well as thiamine and vitamin B1 benefits.
Note that oatmeal should make up no more than 10% of your flock’s daily caloric needs, not serving as an alternative source for feed but as a treat and occasional snack.
