Is Blackstrap Molasses okay for Molasses flush? Please help

[Break an Egg]

I didn't know that the bottom of my feeder had some green moldy food that stuck and I think my hens have been affected. They are acting okay, just once in a while they go and sit in the bushes like they are very tired. They will close their eyes and look like they are muttering to themsleves.

I want to do a flush, but is blackstap molasses okay to use? Can I also add ACV to the molasses water?

 

[Break an Egg]

Anyone??? Please I want to get it out there before they start to roost so that this is effective.

 

[GardenerGal]

I wouldn't necessarily flush right away if they are acting normally. Not all mold is dangerous (my flock has eaten moldy bread without a problem, though I try not to give them visibly moldy food.). They might be muttering in the bushes because it's hot or they thought they were going to lay an egg. Or they are just napping. If they are eating, drinking and doing regular chicken things, I'd just monitor them.

Molasses is molasses, so if you do feel you have to flush, blackstrap should be fine, but I hope someone who has done a flush will write here and confirm.

 

[Break an Egg]

One was actually acting pretty bad. She was putting her head under her wing and sleeping while the others were free ranging. She would also sleep standing up.


In case it helps anyone, I did add the molasses to the water, and since I wasn't sure how much they were going to each drink since it was late in the day, I put a couple of pieces of bread in the water and they ate the soaked bread up.

I cleaned out the feeder and hopefully they will get better by tommorrow.

 

[GardenerGal]

Good luck! But I wonder if it's something else that is the problem. Is she pooping normally? I don't think that moldy feed would create an immediate reaction unless there was some toxin being released, but in that case she would likely be lying on her side and not just sleeping on her feet!

 

[Break an Egg]

Poop seems to be normal, behavior doesn't. They all look fine, including the one that was acting funny. I had been keeping my eye on that one for 3 days now. She was up and at it this morning, but after I saw what the feeder looked like, I knew it couldn't be good.

 

[GardenerGal]

Hm. Is it possible she has been eating moldy feed for a few days and the others haven't? If she is lethargic it might be another issue, especially if the other hens aren't having trouble. Normal poop is a good sign, but the excess sleeping is a worry.

Let's see if the molasses does something for her.

 

[Break an Egg]

Thank you gardenergal, I will definately post an update in the AM