Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chickens

[Daimyo]

Few years ago I've written an article about how to make certain animal products richer in omegas-3. That's one of the the references I've used:

"With laying hens, there may be transitory
problems with suddenly incorporating 8-10%
flaxseed in the diet, usually manifested as
reduced feed intake and/or wet sticky manure.
These problems can usually be overcome by
gradual introduction of flaxseed, using for ex -ample, 4% for one week, followed by 6% for
another week and then the final 8-10% inclusion.
It usually takes 15-20 d in order for omega-3
content of eggs to plateau at the desired level of
300 mg/egg. With prolonged feeding there is often
greater incidence of liver hemorrhage in layers,
even though mortality is rarely affected. Such
hemorrhaging occurs even in the presence of
100-250 IU vitamin E/kg diet, which is a
regular addition to flax-based diets. Disruption
to liver function may become problematic if
other stressors occur."

"COMMERCIAL POULTRY NUTRITION THIRD EDITION"
by STEVEN LEESON, Ph.D. Professor of Animal Nutrition
and JOHN D. SUMMERS, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus

ALA is so good for chickens that it kills their livers. I guess they can't handle the goodies!

 

[LucyL]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

I have noticed a sharp uptick in just nasty tasting eggs from the supermarket recently. It's like there has been a wholesale change in the feed of commercial laying hens. Adding the omega-3s was bad enough, now the flavor has gone too.

It's not just eggs - Costco is selling organic whole milk, with added fish meal and fish oil. YUCK. I'm sure the dairy industry is working hard on a way to increase the omega-3 in milk just through the cows' food.

 

[charlie]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Wow.

 

[Daimyo]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Yep... And 8% of flax seed in chicken's diet means "only" 2% of α-Linolenic acid in the diet...

 

[narouz]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Yep... And 8% of flax seed in chicken's diet means "only" 2% of α-Linolenic acid in the diet...

Thanks Daimyo.
On this last point,
are you saying that the 8% flax translates
to 2% a-linolenic acid of the chickens' total diet?
And is that 2% a lot more PUFA than they would normally get
(I guess on the typical commerical feed
or whatever diet those chickens were being fed)?

 

[SQu]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

I read in a farmer's magazine that the 2013/14 world oilseed production will reach an all time high, and that global consumption will continue to grow.

 

[Daimyo]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Hi narouz

Diet specifications (recommended minimum values) for layers hens:
Linoleic acid (%) 1.1 - 1.8 (depending on the age). Usually total fat in the diet is around 5%, but only around 2-3% PUFAs

2% of α-Linolenic acid is on top of other PUFAs. I forgot to mentioned that flax seed is usually only used to make "omega 3 rich" eggs, they cost more than normal eggs.

 

[jyb]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

I read in a farmer's magazine that the 2013/14 world oilseed production will reach an all time high, and that global consumption will continue to grow.

Time to invest in pharma stocks?

 

[Kray]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Few years ago I've written an article about how to make certain animal products richer in omegas-3. That's one of the the references I've used:

"With laying hens, there may be transitory
problems with suddenly incorporating 8-10%
flaxseed in the diet, usually manifested as
reduced feed intake and/or wet sticky manure.
These problems can usually be overcome by
gradual introduction of flaxseed, using for ex -ample, 4% for one week, followed by 6% for
another week and then the final 8-10% inclusion.
It usually takes 15-20 d in order for omega-3
content of eggs to plateau at the desired level of
300 mg/egg. With prolonged feeding there is often
greater incidence of liver hemorrhage in layers,
even though mortality is rarely affected. Such
hemorrhaging occurs even in the presence of
100-250 IU vitamin E/kg diet, which is a
regular addition to flax-based diets. Disruption
to liver function may become problematic if
other stressors occur."

"COMMERCIAL POULTRY NUTRITION THIRD EDITION"
by STEVEN LEESON, Ph.D. Professor of Animal Nutrition
and JOHN D. SUMMERS, Ph.D. Professor Emeritus

ALA is so good for chickens that it kills their livers. I guess they can't handle the goodies!

On another thread (Cage Free vs. Pastured Eggs) we've been talking about the differences in feed. We are eating the egg, not the chicken. There are so many things to consider as variables-- caged vs. pastured, omega 3 vs. non, flax vs. soy, organic vs non vs GMO, etc etc. Seems that this is a question that won't be answered unless you raise your own hens to lay eggs, having complete control over what they eat. And what will you feed them?

 

[Daimyo]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Good solution is a proper rotated pasture/food forest. You can check what I'm talking about here. It's long but if you're interested in chickens then that's the place to go.
http://www.richsoil.com/raising-chickens.jsp

To answer your question what to feed them... For protein bugs (from pasture) and green they will find on pasture/food forest. For energy the good solution are cooked vegetables (carrots, beets, parsnip, potatoes) . In the past in Poland pigs and chickens were fed steamed potatoes. Now days almost none does it as it's more time consuming. Also u can think about whey (if you have a cow).

My grandmother told me that she used to pick up sugar beetroots that fall of a truck and give them to chickens, She cut them in two and chickens were going mad for them... One can get a very sweet deal if u buy your vegetables in bulk. Especially if you buy over-sized or unusuall shape vegetables. My friend buys a very good carrots (Brix 11,5 - that's higher than in supermarket) for his horses for 10p (0,15$) per kg.

 

[freal]

Re: Flax seed (linseed) and flax seed oil is "good" for chic

Also consider that linseed contains the ALA (alpha linolenic acid) type of omega 3 and not the marine one DHA or EPA. ALA has 3 double bounds, imagine what a 5 double bound fat like DHA or 6 double bounds like EPA would do.

That researcher that lived with the Eskimos mainly on seal and other fish oil became sterile. But the Eskimos seem to do fine on it if they eat the organs too.