KELP
Kelp (Ascophyllum nodosom) is a great and beneficial supplement for all living animals. It is packed with over 100 micronutrients and has many of the trace elements that are lacking in land grown feeds and pastures. A lot of trace minerals in kelp are necessary for producing enzymes which in turn promote many healthy body functions. Kelp is an all natural supplement and is accepted in organic agriculture. It is fed to beef cattle, dairy cows, swine, goats, sheep, horses and poultry, as well as pets. It has been found to improve feed utilization, improves overall production ( milk, weight gain, eggs etc.), reduces or eliminates many breeding problems, great source of iodine which aids to regulate metabolism, increases egg production and iodine content, strengthens shells, and darkens yolk and skin color. A good feeding rate for kelp is to make it approximately 2% of the feed ration. Another way to feed it is to have it free choice. The animals will eat what they need, usually they will eat more at the beginning, than their craving will deter after their needs are being met. If fed to an already grown duck, goose, or chicken that it was not fed from hatch, I would say it would be best to mix it into the feed. Mixing kelp right into the start crumble is a great way to get day olds off to a great start. For best results, it should be fed through an entire molt cycle. A train of thought about kelp is that all the nutrients that it contains are necessary for healthy cell function, and if every cell in an organism is healthy you will have a healthy organism. We have fed kelp to our horses for over 20 years! We also feed it to our angora goats, ducks, chickens, turkeys, dogs and would not go without it. Consider adding this wonderful supplement to your animals' diet.
Here are SOME of the nutrients that kelp contains:
Vitamins: Ascorbic acid, Tocopherols (E), Carotene (A), Ba, Niacin, Vitamin K, Riboflavin, Ni, V, Thiamin, Folic acid, Folinic acid, Biotin, Vitamin B12
Amino Acids: Alanine, Arginine, Aspartic acid, Glutamic acid, Glycine, Leucine, Lysine, Serine, Threonine, Tyrosine, Valine + Methionine
Minerals and Elements: Aluminum, Antimony, Barium, Boron, Calcium, Chlorine, Cobalt, Copper, Fluorine, Germanium, Gold, Iodine, Iron, Lantanum, Lithium, Magnesium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Nickel, Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Rubidium, Selenium, Silicon, Sodium, Sulfur, Strontium, Thallium, Tin, Titanium, Tungsten, Vanadium, Zinc
Trace or Undeclared Amounts: Beryllium, Bromine, Bismuth, Cadmium, Carbon, Cesium, Cerium, Chromium, Gallium, Hydrogen, Indium, Iridium, Niobium, Osmium, Oxygen, Palladium, Platinum, Rhodium, Silver, Tellurium, Thorium, Zirconium
Here is what some other waterfowl breeders had to say about kelp:
On our farm we started using kelp 4 years ago strictly on a bet. I was very skeptical until I was told by another, "Try it. Use it for six months. If you don't like it, I'll refund your money." I didn't have anything to lose. After my six month "bet period" was over, I didn't ask for a refund. I continued the use of kelp. We noticed better vitality in our hatches, easier molts on our birds, better feather quality, and better nutrition. Kelp works to make every red blood cell healthy. Therefore, if every red blood cell in an animal is healthy, you will have an overall healthier flock. Kelp is loaded with trace minerals. We have since expanded its use in our horses, dogs, and cats. We are happy with the results. Get my money back? No thank you. Submitted by Janice Huff
My experience with Kelp: I had heard of kelp over ten years ago from a friend in Ontario; kelp is more readily available and less expensive in Canada than in the US. It became popular several years ago when it was added to high-end horse feeds. I have noticed a difference in the brooding ducklings and chicks as they seem to be more alert. During and after a moult, my birds are healthier. A lot of energy is used to produce feathers, whether its a growing bird or one growing new feathers after the moult. The kelp has helped my birds keep growing and in shape, even while putting on new feathers. Since the kelp is chelated and is easily absorbed by the cells, there is no competition of nutrition, so the bird grows and develops consistently and feed conversion is better. Kelp feeds on the cellular level, not the intestinal. I use at least three lbs per hundred lbs of feed and would not be without it. Submitted by Brian Witt
Payments can be sent via paypal to:
or by postal money order(the only kind of money order you can get at the post office) sent to:
Brice Wonders
P.O. Box 106
Kirkwood PA, 17536