How to Feed Chickens Flaxseed

Chickens with a proper balance of flaxseed in their diet will produce eggs with more Omega-3 fatty acid. These eggs are more nutritious for people, as Omega-3 fatty acids are believed to decrease heart problems. However, the flaxseed does not benefit the health of the chickens and can harm them if too much is added to their diet. The benefits of flaxseed are passed directly on to the eggs, which are not only more nutritious, but are often larger in size.

Things You'll Need

  • Whole flaxseed
  • Pre-made or homemade chicken feed
  • Flaxseed oil
  • 40 kg wheat
  • 15 kg oats
  • 25 kg layer supplement
  • 8 kg limestone
  • 2 kg canola oil
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase flaxseed with whole seeds; don't use ground flaxseed because the fat in flaxseed will become rancid upon grinding.

    • 2

      Prepare the chicken feed. You can purchase chicken feed, or mix your own feed. Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives, or MAFR, recommends mixing 40 kg wheat, 15 kg oats, 25 kg layer supplement, 8 kg limestone and 2 kg canola oil. The layer supplement is used to supply the vitamins to your chicken and can be purchased at feed stores.

    • 3

      Add the flaxseed to the chicken feed. According to F.H. Katzer and Pran Vohra at the University of California, Davis, the total flaxseed can compose up to 15% of the feed. The MAFR recommends 10 kg of flaxseed oil be added to the mixture if you make your own chicken feed.

    • 4

      Spread the mixture on the ground at meal time. Remove all excess food before you feed the chickens again; flaxseed left on the ground will go rancid.