Animal Health

Why Fall Grasses Can Be Risky

Although many producers focus on spring pastures as being high risk, fall grazing carries similar hazards. Cool nights + good moisture + shorter days combine to produce grasses that are lush but less digestible, which can lead to rumen upsets and bloat.

Key Risk Mechanics

As grasses grow in the cooler, wetter fall conditions, they pull up moisture and nitrogen during the n ight but they don’t have as much daylight/heat to convert those into mature fibre, stem or structural carbohydrates. That results in high moisture, high N (protein fraction) but low effective fibre and slower plant metabolism → less digestible forage.

That lower digestibility can slow rumen evacuation, increase gas build-up, and lead to bloat when animals eat too much too fast.

Meanwhile, cool-season grasses, especially regrowth or early fall flushes, often have low magnesium (Mg) levels or antagonistic high potassium (K) or nitrogen ( N ) which interfere with Mg uptake by the animal. This sets the stage for grass tetany.

Then What Happens?

Bloat: Gas builds in the rumen, often from animals turned onto lush legume or high moisture grass pastures when hungry or moist. The timing is critical — right after frost, early morning, or when the grass is wet.

Grass Tetany: Also called “staggers,” this is a metabolic disorder characterized by low blood Mg in ruminants grazing lush, Mg-deficient pastures (and often high K). Symptoms can progress rapidly to convulsions and death.

In non-ruminant animals – such as horses – similar dangers from fall pastures are present, but often show up as colic (digestive upset) or laminitis (inflammation in the hooves).

Practical Prevention Strategies

Here are some actionable steps to reduce the risk:

Delay turnout

Wait until pastures have dried after dew or rain (especially after frost or that first fall flush) before moving them onto the pasture, or to a new section of rotational grazing. Turn animals out later in the day when grasses have had a chance to ‘work’ in the daylight, usually around noon or so.

Fill them up with dry forage first

Give animals dry hay/forage before allowing access to high-risk pasture. This reduces the binge effect and the sudden influx of lush forage.

Pasture and Forage management

Avoid turn out on pure, young, rapidly growing grass flushes — especially cool season grasses or cereal covers. Where possible, include legumes which often have higher Mg and more structural fibre, which mitigate some risks.

Monitor fertilization: high N & K fertilizing increases risk of tetany because K antagonizes Mg in the rumen.

Supplementation of key minerals

For grass tetany: ensure animals have access to a mineral mixture that provides adequate magnesium such as Grazier’s Choice with added magnesium from Fertrell, or a magnesium block. You can also add epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) to your existing free-choice mineral to boost the magnesium content. You want to have a mineral that contains 10-14% magnesium, or about .6 ounces of pure Mg daily per head.

For bloat: consider anti-bloat measures (adding oil to your water trough) and avoid abrupt grazing changes that can upset the balance of the rumen. Make sure your herd has access to adequate salt amounts.

Combine mineral supplementation with the management practices above (delayed turnout, dry hay first, pasture mix, etc.) for best results.

Take-aways:

Fall grasses can pose hidden risks: bloat (from lush, wet, high-moisture/low-fibre pasture) and grass tetany (from Mg-deficient, high-K/N forage).

Prevention = good timing of turnout + ensuring animals are fed/have dry forage first + pasture composition + mineral support.

Using a mineral product like Grazier’s Choice (especially the Mg version) helps ensure animals have the micronutrient support they need.

Always monitor animals closely when first grazing new pasture flushes — the onset of issues can be very rapid.

Happy grazing!

Helping Your Chickens Through Molt — Naturally

Molt is one of the most important — and misunderstood — times in your flock’s year. Every fall, your hens shed old feathers, lose some weight, and reset their systems for another productive laying cycle. With the right nutrition and environment, you can help them move through molt smoothly and come out stronger than before.

What Really Happens During Molt

According to Jeff Mattocks of Fertrell, during molt your birds actually run a mild fever as their bodies work to drop and regrow feathers. They’ll lose about 15–25% of their body weight, which helps remove internal fat, shrink the ovaries, and reset their reproductive system for the next laying season.

This process takes a lot of energy — but not in the way you might think!

Early Molt = A Different Diet

When the molt begins, birds are already running warm and under stress. That means they actually need a lighter, high-fiber, lower-protein diet at first — not a protein boost right away.

A proper molt starter feed should look something like this:

Protein: 10–11%

Fat: 2–3%

Fiber: 10% or more

Lysine: under 0.7%

Methionine: under 0.3%

Calcium: around 1.5%

Phosphorus: about 0.6%

If you can’t find a dedicated molt feed, you can easily make your own:

Mix 1 part of your regular feed with 3 parts whole oats.

This will safely dilute the protein and boost fiber to help your flock feel more comfortable during this warm, stressful phase. You may need to add back minerals when diluting feed.

Feed this blend for about 14-21 days, at a rate of 2 ounces per standard bird.

Then, Shift Gears

After that two or three-week period, switch your birds to a high-quality, amino-acid-enriched diet — ideally 18% protein or higher — to support new feather growth and rebuild body condition.

This second phase helps produce strong, shiny plumage and sets your hens up for healthy egg production when they start laying again. Kraut Creek’s Hi-Temp Layer or Dual Purpose feeds are both great options for this recovery period.

Keep Them Cool and Comfortable

Because molting birds run a natural fever, heat stress can become a problem. Help them stay cool by:

Offering extra drinkers and cool, clean water

Providing shade and good air circulation

Using fans or misters in hot climates

Ensuring plenty of space so they can spread out and avoid crowding

Avoid feeding molt diets to juvenile birds that aren’t ready to molt — separate them if you can.

The Regenerative View

Molt isn’t a setback — it’s a biological reset. By letting your birds shed fat, rebuild feathers, and rebalance internally, you’re supporting their long-term health and the productivity of your flock naturally. A healthy molt means fewer health problems later and better overall performance when laying resumes.

In short:

Start with a low-protein, high-fiber “cool down” phase

Transition to a high-protein, amino acid-rich recovery phase

Support hydration, comfort, and calm

Avoid overfeeding or excess heat

Be patient with your birds as they regrow and move back into production

Give your flock the grace to rest and rebuild — and they’ll reward you with renewed vigor, glossy feathers, and strong eggs in the months ahead.

We saw a sharp drop in temps this week here in Ohio, where we are based. It’s a quick reminder that cold temperatures are just around the corner!

As temperatures drop, your poultry flock faces new challenges: cold stress, ice, drafts, pests seeking shelter, diminished daylength, moisture, and respiratory risks. A little proactive planning can make all the difference in keeping your birds healthy, comfortable, and productive through the season. Below are 7 practical, low-tech strategies that align with natural and resilient husbandry.

  Avoid Supplemental Heat Shock

One common mistake is installing heat lamps or other supplemental heating. While tempting, it’s really not necessary, even in the coldest of climates. Chickens have an average body temperature of 105-109 degrees, and their feathers provide the ultimate cold weather protection. Using supplemental heat sources can create dangerous temperature shock that causes stress and chilling, not to mention the fire risk. Instead:

• Rely on passive insulation (bedding, draft control)
• Maintain ventilation and fresh air (priority #1!)
• Protect from wind, drafts, and snow intrusion

 Don’t Overthink the Feed

Don’t overcomplicate “winter rations”: Birds are resilient. Rather than shifting feeds, focus on keeping it dry. As long as you are feeding a quality, balanced feed your birds will not need anything extra for the winter months.

Feeding fats: In extreme weather, providing a little extra energy can help birds maintain body heat. A modest amount of animal fat (lard, tallow) or high-quality vegetable fats can help them thermoregulate without forcing them to overeat bulk feed. But don’t overdo it! A fat chicken is susceptible to death and disease.

  Insulation & Bedding

Extra bedding = extra insulation. Provide ample dry material (pine shavings, straw, chopped leaves) to insulate floors, nest boxes, and walls.

Raise roosts off the ground so chilled ground air doesn’t sap body heat.

Wind breaks (solid walls, barnboard, tarps) help block cold drafts or snow intrusion at coop openings.

  Ventilation

You need a balance: fresh air without drafts. Ventilation prevents ammonia and moisture buildup and respiratory issues without chilling the birds. Avoid sealing the coop too tightly; stale air is worse than cold air.

  Water — Critical!

Keep water fresh, clean, and ice-free. Use heated buckets or trough heaters where safe, or check and break ice multiple times daily. Livestock drink considerably more water in winter when that water is warm than when it is near-freezing temperatures. Water in cold weather must stay available—thirst is a serious stressor.

  Comb & Skin Protection

Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline or equivalent) on combs, wattles, and exposed areas to reduce frostbite risk. A thin coating helps protect against freezing winds. Keep your bird’s feet dry (wet bedding or floor surfaces increase risk of frostbite and foot issues).

  Coop Sanitation & Pest Prevention

Clean up before pests move in. As weather cools, rodents, insects, and other pests seek shelter and food. Do a full coop cleanout: remove all bedding, droppings, old feed, nest materials.

Apply agricultural lime under bedding floor (on the bare coop floor) to help control odors, pathogens, and insect larvae.

Sulfur & garlic in feed to deter mites. Mix 2 tablespoons powdered sulfur + 2 Tbsp. garlic powder per 25 lb feed to help discourage mites and external parasites. Maintain the supplement for at least 30 days to allow the ingredients to build up in the bird’s blood supply and make them less appetizing to these pests.

Control mice & rats wisely. One trick from Fertrell’s Jeff Mattocks: using naturally sweetened bubble gum (e.g. Bubble Yum, Chiclets) placed where only rodents can access. Avoid artificial sweeteners (they won’t eat it). This is a low-toxicity method of poisoning rodents that doesn’t endanger other animals who may eat them.

Don’t overload yourself this season – we all have enough to keep with as it is, right? Prioritize what matters most, and your birds will fare well until spring.

Our “Kraut Creek Plus” line of feeds combines the power of OGS with any of our existing feed products.

What Is OGS?

Organic Gut Solution (OGS) is a carbon‑based, regenerative gut‑health supplement crafted by Verticarb, Inc. It uses activated organic biochar, combined with montmorillonite clay and diatomite, to naturally support and optimize digestive health across species.

It is tailored to the specific nutritional and gut‑health needs of each species (“Poultry Formula”, “Bovine Formula”, etc.) using bio‑available minerals to avoid depleting the animal’s reserves. It is chemical‑free and organic-friendly, making it a natural alternative to antibiotic growth promoters and medicated feeds.

What Does OGS Do?

1. Balances pH & Binds Toxins

OGS creates a gut environment that reduces acid stress, binds harmful bacteria and toxins, and safely removes them via waste—all while encouraging beneficial gut flora to thrive.

2. Improved Feed Efficiency & Production

When digestion is optimized, animals can extract more nutrition from feed. This results in better weight gain, higher milk production, more consistent egg laying, or extended laying periods. Not to mention lower feed costs!

3. Immune Support & Stress Reduction

When gut balance is maintained, an animals body can shift focus toward immune function. Field reports note calmer flocks, lower mortality under stress, and improved recovery from challenges like coccidiosis or enteritis.

4. Lower Odor, Healthier Feathers & Skin

Users report reduced manure odor, shinier and fuller feathers, shinier coats, and overall improved appearance of their herds & flocks.

5. Ease of Use & Flexibility

Suitable for all animal types regardless of age—OGS can be offered free‑choice, mixed into feed, or top‑dressed. Have multiple species on your farm? Buy our bulk bag to share among all of your animals.

When to Use OGS?

Especially helpful during stress and transition periods, young animal development, and gut challenges like coccidiosis, scours, or enteritis. Use as needed during these periods or keep OGS in your feed year-round to boost growth and provide extra immunity—without the drawbacks of antibiotics or harsh additives.

Try the KC Plus line of your favorite Kraut Creek feed to level up your feed game!

Already have your feed in the barn? Purchase a bag of species-specific OGS supplement to top dress, or a bulk bag for all species!