The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Stereo on December 01, 2013, 09:33:27 pm
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We have always fed our birds on A+p smallholders gm free feed. We have had loads of people saying they are the best eggs they have ever had. We have one very happy customer who says he can tell when hens are fed on fish meal in the taste of the eggs. We thought he was a bit out there but went with it. Anyway, for one reason or another we couldn't get the normal feed so bought a few bags of feed from a big, south west feed supply / country store company.
Anyway, we have noticed that suddenly the eggs smell fishy when boiled, especially the darker eggs. I can't see any mention of fish products in the ingredients but there's lots of stuff in there I can't pronounce. My toddler who has always loved a boiled egg with soldiers turned his nose up at it. I don't like eggs but when I smelled it I could see why. Fishy.
Is this a known thing? Any idea what the ingredient is that might cause this?
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As far as I am aware fishmeal or fish oil has been banned for a number of years so I would think it can't be actual fish that makes your egg taste of fish. How fresh are were the eggs would be my first thought, otherwise the feed bag should have a label naming all the ingredients and that may give you an idea.
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Laid the same day so totally fresh. I've checked the ingredients and can't see anything other than a lot of stuff that isn't in our usual feed. Switching back tomorrow and will monitor results.
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In order to up the omega 3 flaxseed can be used and if to much it can leave a fishy taste just a thought. Does your feed have any flaxseed.
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Can't see any. We're picking up more A+P today so I'll have a look and see what this has different. One thing it does have is colourants and digestability enhancers which I don't think the A+P has. I noticed the yokes are darker since we started with it.
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They use fish extracts in one of the cheaper feeds over here for boosting the protein content. The birds produced the stinkiest sludgy brown poos within 24 hours and we threw the feed away immediately. So I doubt there is any fish extract in that feed Stereo because, believe me, your nose would have noticed something was wrong, long before there was a fishy taste in the eggs.