Liquid Iodine

[gayle]

I am going to post some quotes from other breeders on liquid iodine use for poultry.

We had a breeder tell us if our birds have poor fertility put some Iodine in their water. Have any of you guys ever been told this before or even practice this.
There appears to be some Pros and Cons on this Issue.

I am posting a WARNING with this: use at you own discretion. Because to much iodine can be toxic. And most likely if you have fertile heathy productive birds they most likely don't need Iodine.
BUT if you have infertile, nonlaying, nonproductive birds, will iodine help them??

There are several birds that require iodine supplements such as finches, budgerigars, so on and so forth.

I have been doing a little reserch on this, so if anybody has any info on this I am interested.

[gayle]

curezone.com/forums/am.asp?i=1352786

Something very strange happened today, I went to collect my chickodines eggs and one of my grandmother chickens was in the process of laying an egg. This chicken has not layed for over a year!!! I thought she was too old for laying. I have been giving my chickens Iodine in their water for a while now and I wonder if this is having an effect of the ovaries of the chickens.

spud

Iodine. The level of Iodine in seed is directly relatable to the levels of iodine in the soil in which the seed was grown. The level of iodine in many soils in Australia is quite low. Iodine is found in yeast or can be supplemented in the water. To do this, dilute 2 ml of Lugol’s iodine into 30 ml of water to make a concentrated solution. Then add 4 drops of this concentrated solution to each litre of drinking water.

Dietary iodine for budgerigars


Where do I start?

Iodine is an important part of any bird's diet and a deficiency in this vital nutrient can lead to serious health problems.

Unfortunately budgerigars are much more susceptible to iodine deficiency than most other aviary birds and need higher levels to keep them in peak condition.

Iodine is needed for normal functioning of the thyroid gland. Hormones produced by the thyroid are vital in controlling the metabolism of the body and help regulate many functions in the body including growth, digestion, heart rate, body temperature, the nervous system and the reproductive system.


Symptoms of iodine deficiency . . .

Iodine deficiency leads to a decreased production of thyroid hormone and the body responds by increasing the release of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH). This in turn causes enlargement of the thyroid gland.

The main sign of iodine deficiency in budgerigars is difficulty in breathing, caused by pressure of the oversized thyroid on the trachea (windpipe). The affected bird typically develops a "clicking" noise or audible whistling or squeak as it breathes. If left untreated it can lead to death by suffocation.


In domestic poultry, iodine deficiency in breeding hens results in reduced egg iodine levels, reduced egg production, decreased hatchability, prolonged hatching time, and thyroid enlargement in the embryos.

Since a deficiency of iodine will decrease breeding performance, some budgerigar breeders use iodine supplements to enhance the metabolism of budgerigars and stimulate the birds to breed, to accelerate the moult of young birds and to ensure birds are at their peak for showing.


Prevalence of iodine deficiency . . .

Iodine deficiency tends to be a regional problem as natural exposure to iodine is greater in coastal areas. Although wild budgerigars predominantly inhabit inland areas of Australia (and eat a diet based on seeds from a wide variety of species of ground plants) they are thought to balance their diet by foraging in dirt and river edges in search of minerals and trace elements.

Pet budgerigars are thought to be at increased risk of iodine deficiency due to their natural reluctance to supplement their diets with additional foodstuffs, particularly when fed on seed-based diets. The iodine content of the various seeds fed to budgerigars varies with the climate and location where they are grown. Australian birdseeds tend to be naturally low in iodine, although marked regional variations occur due to differing soil types and salt deposits.

Until the 1960s, symptoms of iodine deficiency were commonly seen in domesticated budgerigars fed on all-seed diets. The WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition (WCPN) was responsible for establishing the incidence of iodine deficiency in budgerigars, where researchers found that 85 percent of budgerigars suffered from thyroid disease and 24 percent died as a result.

In light of the fact that seed-based diets may be deficient not only in iodine, but in a number of other vital nutrients, responsible birdseed companies supplement their seed mixes to increase the levels of certain minerals and vitamins. For example GOLDEN COB Budgerigar diets are supplemented with a number of essential vitamins and minerals, including iodine.


Treating iodine deficiency

Treatment for iodine deficiency should only be carried out on the advice of your veterinarian. The usual program consists of a drop of iodine put into the drinking water daily for two weeks, then once a week thereafter. This should continue for at least eight weeks.


Iodine toxicity . . .

Excess iodine can be just as harmful as a deficiency and interferes with normal thyroid gland function - particularly in young birds.

Iodine toxicity is rare in birds and animals since it requires a regular elevated intake of iodine and is most likely to occur in an aviary through misuse of disinfectants containing iodine or over-zealous use of iodine supplements.

The safe upper limit for iodine in poultry food has been set at 10mg/kg by EU legislation. The concentration of iodine in the TRILL budgerigar formulation exceeds the minimum requirements established by the WCPN and is below the EU safe upper limit for poultry.

Iodine toxicity has not been well defined in caged birds, but has been observed in poultry fed a ration with an iodine content of 625mg/kg. Broiler chickens showed signs of iodine toxicity, including poor growth and reduced food intake, when fed a diet containing 900 or 1,200mg/kg iodine for nine to 13 days. Excess iodine in grower diets can prevent sexual maturation in male and female fowl.

In breeding poultry, fertility of female breeders is unaffected by high iodine intake, but hatching of fertile eggs is reduced, hatching time is extended and embryonic mortality and dead-in-shell proportions are increased.

In contrast, male fertility is decreased because of an increased incidence of dead spermatozoa, although hatchability of eggs from normally fed hens is unaffected. All reproductive variables, together with feed intake and body weight, have been shown to return to normal within seven days of feeding a diet with normal iodine levels

Thanks trapper your a wealth of information as always, I thought it might be something to do with the chickens ovaries as Iodine is taken up by human ovaries. Chickens are supposed to have a finite number of eggs just like humans, and it is thought that when chickens stop laying as they get older, that they have used up this store of eggs. Maybe my grandma chicken had some other problem that the iodine has taken care of and not used up her egg store as I originally thought. I wonder if she's a bit upset with having to lay eggs again, lol.

I have zebra finches as well and have been supplementing them with iodine as well (very reduced dose as they are only little) they like to bath in this water as well, and the same thing happened as with the chickens, the finches do not touch the uniodinated water anymore, even for bathing.

regards, spud

[gayle]

LIQUID IODINE

LIQUID IODINE is a dietary supplement designed to address iodine deficiencies in birds. Iodine is required for proper thyroid functioning. Iodine deficiencies can result in difficult moults, poor feather condition , breathing and singing problems, inactivity and poor breeding. LIQUID IODINE provides the extra dietary iodine needed by Austrailian finches and eliminates balding in Gouldian finches.

DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Add two drops of LIQUID IODINE to one quart of clean drinking water. Use daily and as bird’s only source of drinking water. Safe for young and adult birds. Keep container closed before and after use. This product is free of pesticides. Store in a cool, dry place.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS:
- Potassium Iodide
- Atlantic Macrocystis Pyrifera Sea Kelp
- Sodium Benzoate

Liquid Iodine for Finches and Birds-Finch Supplies-Gouldian Finch Supplies-Finch-Bird Supplies

Supplemental iodine helps to restore feather loss with balding Lady Gouldians, [...] finches. Aids in egg hatchability, molting and feather production.

Do not get on skin. *** Do not exceed the recommended dosage *** Iodine in excess can be poisonous.

DOSE: 1 teaspoon per gallon of fresh drinking water. Use once weekly. Dose may be reduced to 1/4 teaspoon and mixed with Feather Glow liquid vitamins 4 days per week according to the directions.

Liquid iodine concentrate can also be used as an antiseptic to sterilize food or water containers, perches, nest boxes, cages and lofts: Use 1 ounce of liquid iodine concentrate per 10 gallons water. Apply with tank sprayer. Kills bacteria and germs which can cause infection and illness.

[gayle]

Liquid iodine concentrate can also be used as an antiseptic to sterilize food or water containers, perches, nest boxes, cages and lofts: Use 1 ounce of liquid iodine concentrate per 10 gallons water. Apply with tank sprayer. Kills bacteria and germs which can cause infection and illness.

We have been putting iodine in the water trays in our incubator and hatcher.
It doses make it smell better, plus it stops bacteria growth in the water.
We had a breeder tell us that there is a bacteria that can grow in incubator and hatcher water that can transfer to the eggs and babychicks through the moisture and iodine will destroy this bacteria.

[aveca]

Very interesting as always Gayle.

[turnedluck]

I have used liquid iodine in the water once a week for the 35 years I have been breeding pigeons and I feel it was very helpful with fertility and especially the hatching process. When ever someone had trouble with chicks hatching, my first suggestion was always iodine and it was usually the solution.

That said I am new to chicken breeding but can't imagine much difference. I have been using it on the chicks I have for the whole 6 weeks I have had them so far.

I do like to use both a product called Lugol's and the regular tamed iodine (do not use tincture of iodine).

[gayle]

Oct 31, 2013 20:10:33 GMT -5 turnedluck said:

I have used liquid iodine in the water once a week for the 35 years I have been breeding pigeons and I feel it was very helpful with fertility and especially the hatching process. When ever someone had trouble with chicks hatching, my first suggestion was always iodine and it was usually the solution.

That said I am new to chicken breeding but can't imagine much difference. I have been using it on the chicks I have for the whole 6 weeks I have had them so far.

I do like to use both a product called Lugol's and the regular tamed iodine (do not use tincture of iodine).

How much iodine do you put in water.

[turnedluck]

Gayle I use one teaspoon per gallon one day a week all year long.

[d12chandler]

OK, I'm not clear. 1 teaspoon of Lugol and 1 teaspoon of tamed iodine. Where do you buy this stuff.
Also, like I have a trio in one pen, a gallon of water will last longer than a day. Is that all right or do
they just get it for one day? I want to try this.

[turnedluck]

Okay Don (I think??), I use both products but not at the same time. You can use the simple Tamed Iodine at one teaspoon per gallon of water one day a week (adjust amount as needed; ie 1/2 teaspoon for 1/2 gallon). During the breeding season (for my pigeons mid Dec. - June) I use the Lugols. It is an iodine based product but has added ingredients. I get it from a pigeon supply house, Global Pigeon Supply. I think it is GA.

If you need more info let me know.

[gayle]

Joe
Thank You for the information.

[turnedluck]

Glad I can contribute something Gayle. I enjoy all of your contributions. Still trying to get the whole forum read.