goat mineral block for chicks/hens?

[eclipchic]

We pulled our goat's mineral block out of their stall in favor of loose minerals and the chicks we are raising (both meat and layers) plus our grown hens have just taken right to it like its candy. I'm making an assumption in leaving it that if they are eating it they might need the salt and minerals...but then again these birds will sometimes try to eat plastic.

Is there any good reason to remove it from their area?

[Cyngbaeld]

Chickens can die of salt overdose. I wouldn't be inclined to let them have it.

[eclipchic]

good to know, I'll get it out of there then

[oregon woodsmok]

Mineral block usually has a lot of salt. Poultry doesn't need any salt. Is there molasses in the block? They are probably going after the sweet.

Since they are crazy for fruit, you know that they love sweet.

I buy salt-free trace mineral for my dogs at the health food store. That's probably a bit spendy to feed to poultry. Commercial poultry feed should already contain minerals.

[WstTxLady]

If you want a block for them, get the Purina Flock Block. Mine eat them down in no time & that is with them free ranging & free choice crumble. Flock Blocks just don't do good if it rains, it starts to disintegrate but they still eat it all up.

[eclipchic]

I might give them a flock block. We didn't really mean for them to have the goat block to begin with. When it was in the stall we would see them come in and peck at it and now that its out of the stall we see all the babies doing the same.