Best Vitamins for Chickens in 2021

Vitamins are the essential organic compounds that are required in small quantities for the proper functioning of metabolism. Likewise to other organisms, poultry birds also need vitamins as a supplement to enhance their growth.

The deficiency of vitamins can cause some serious health problems in chickens and other poultry birds. If these health problems are left untreated then it can be dangerous for your birds.

In this article, we will look at Best Vitamins For Chickens in 2021 and we will also see, how important is a vitamin in poultry production. Let’s get into the detail. Before going into the detail, make sure you have full information about vitamins and their types. So first, clear out these concepts.

Types of Vitamin

There are two types of vitamins.

1. Fat-soluble Vitamins
2. Water-soluble Vitamins

Fat-soluble Vitamins:

Fat-soluble vitamins are absorbed along with fats in the diet and are stored in the body’s fatty tissue and in the liver. They are found in many plant and animal foods and in dietary supplements.

These are Vitamins A, D, E, and K.

Water-soluble Vitamins:

Water-soluble vitamins are carried to the body’s tissues but are not stored in the body. They are found in many plant and animal foods and in dietary supplements and must be taken daily.

These are Vitamin B and C.

Role of Vitamins in Poultry Production:

Now, we will look at each vitamin and its function in poultry production.

1- Vitamin A:

Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that plays an important role in poultry production. The deficiency of this vitamin can cause some serious consequences.

Source:

Fish liver oil and greens are rich sources of vitamin A

Benefits:

• Enhance reproduction
• Increase growth rate in birds
• Maintain epithelial cells in good condition

Deficiency:

The deficiency of Vitamin A causes the following problems in poultry birds.

• Stucking of eyelids with exudates
• Ocular and nasal discharge
• Conjuctivitis
• Necrosis and keratinisation of mucosa of alimentary and respiratory tract

2- Vitamin D:

Vitamin D3 is also a fat-soluble vitamin. Its sources, benefits, and problems due to deficiency are given below.

Sources:

The best source of VitaminD3 is Fish liver oil. Another source is sunlight, when sun rays hit the skin of your bird then vitamin D3 produces. So try to make such poultry house designs that are rich in ventilation.

Benefits:

• Increase the absorption and utilization of calcium and phosphorous
• Important in bone development
• Eggshell formation also requires Vitamin D3

Deficiency:

Deficiency of Vitamin D3 leads to the following issues:

• Rickets
• Weak or thin egg-shell formation
• Reduce hatchability power in birds
• Weak legs and bones
• Penguin like sitting posture
• The beak, claws and ribs become very pliable

3- Vitamin E:

A powerful antioxidant and important to perform normal neurological functions.

Sources:

Vitamin E is found in the following foods:

• Vegetable oils (such as wheat germ, sunflower, safflower, corn, and soybean oils)
• Nuts (such as almonds, peanuts, and hazelnuts/filberts)
• Seeds (such as sunflower seeds)
• Green leafy vegetables (such as spinach and broccoli)

Benefits:

• Boost immune system
• Increase cells regenration capacity
• Have antioxidant property
• Anti-inflammatory in nature

Deficiency:

Deficiency of Vitamin E leads to:

• Encephalomalacia/crazy chick disease
• Exudative diathesis in young birds
• Muscular dystrophy

4- Vitamin K:

A fat-soluble vitamin with many beneficial effects on poultry birds’ production.

Sources:

Wheat germ oil, fish liver oil, alfalfa meal, greens, germinated pulses, soybean oil, grains, and fish meals are rich sources of Vitamin K.

Benefits:

• Play an important role in the formation of prothrombin thus effective in clotting mechanism
• Very effective agianst coccidiosis

Deficiency:

Deficiency of Vitamin K can cause:

• Haemorrhages in the legs and breast
• Failure in blood clotting
• Blod spots in eggs of poultry birds

5- Vitamin B:

Vitamin B is among the best vitamins for chickens in 2021 is a water-soluble vitamin and includes vitamin thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, pyridoxine, biotin, folic acid, and cyanocobalamin. Let’s discuss it one by one.

Riboflavin ( Vitamin B2):

A part of enzyme regulatory mechanism so plays a vital role in metabolism. The deficiency causes diarrhea and “curled toe paralysis” in birds between the first and second week of age.

In adult birds, decreased egg production increased embryonic mortality, and dead in shell chicks, with dwarfing and clubbing down feathers are seen.

Embryo mortality reaches a peak between 18 to 20 days of incubation. Grasses and brewer’s yeast are rich sources of this vitamin.

Thiamine (Vitamin B1):

It is necessary for proper carbohydrate metabolism. The deficient birds show anorexia, loss of weight, ruffled feathers, dropping of wings, and paralysis of muscles.

The birds sit on flexed legs and draw back the head in a ‘star-gazing position. It is found in abundance in rice polish, wheat bran, and cereal grains.

Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6):

It is necessary for the proper metabolism of amino acids. Due to deficiency, spasmodic convulsions and jerky movements are seen in sick birds. The bird should be fed cereal grains, yeast, and alfalfa meal.

Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12):

It is involved with nucleic acid synthesis, carbohydrate and fat metabolism, and methyl synthesis. This is found in all foods of animal origin.

Its deficiency shows slowed growth, poor feed utilization, and reduced hatchability. Embryonic mortality reaches a peak on the 17th day of incubation.

Myotrophy of legs and hemorrhages in the allantois of the embryo may be seen. Fish meal, milk products, and animal proteins are sources of vitamin B12.

8 Best Vitamins for Chickens in 2021 | Best Choice of Veterinary Doctors

Vitamins are especially important for laying hens, as they need the extra boost to help them maintain optimum health while producing eggs almost daily. Vitamins are also vital for chickens that are not left to free-range, as they cannot get these micro-nutrients from foraging.

So its always a point of debate about what to choose as a multivitamin for poultry birds. Let’s see our best pick-up choice of Best Vitamins for Chickens in 2021 best pick-up choice.

Conclusion:

With all the variety of vitamin supplements on the market nowadays, it can be confusing to find the ideal one for your flock. Hopefully, our in-depth reviews have narrowed the options down so you can choose the best supplement for your needs.