As the backyard chicken trend continues to grow, so does the desire for BioZyme® Inc., to help all animals stay healthy and reach their maximum potential. BioZyme has developed Backyard Boost™, a line of natural products that are purposefully crafted to support the health, wellbeing and productivity of poultry. Backed by research, Backyard Boost uses only the highest quality components and proprietary ingredients proven to support a flourishing flock. 

Backyard Boost will initially offer two products in its line, Daily Essentials and Defense. Both products will include the precision prebiotic Amaferm®, research-proven to increase digestion of feed and absorption of nutrients to help maximize egg production and quality. The products can be fed together and won’t interfere with antibiotic use when treating sick chickens.

“BioZyme is continuously looking for ways that we can diversify and use our strengths to expand our reach with ‘care that comes full circle’ [BioZyme’s mission]. We have known for some time that the backyard poultry industry was growing at an astonishing rate, and that growth was compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our New Products Team, led by myself with the expert advice of our Business Development, Nutrition and Marketing leaders, really felt that with our expertise and knowledge in prebiotics we could bring unique products to market that would be beneficial to chickens and chicken owners alike,” said Lynsey Whitacre, Ph.D., BioZyme Companion Animal Business Development.

Backyard Boost Daily Essentials is a pelleted, natural protein supplement fully fortified with the prebiotic Amaferm, vitamins, minerals and organic trace minerals to maximize growth and egg production and support overall flock health. It contains additional protein to support growth, feather quality, and egg production and calcium and other nutrients for natural improvement of eggshell and yolk quality. While maximizing the overall performance of your backyard chickens, it also helps improve gut health and overall wellbeing. 

As implied by its name, Daily Essentials should be fed daily for maximum results. It compliments your chicken’s feed by maximizing the nutrients they receive from their feed. It can be fed on top of the feed or scattered around the pen for the chickens to scratch during the day. It comes in two sizes, a 2.5 lb. or 10 lb. resealable bag.

Backyard Boost Defense is a liquid supplement that promotes feed and water intake during times of stress and recovery to help support digestive health and a healthy inflammatory response. Defense also contains the precision prebiotic Amaferm to help combat the negative effects of stress and get hens back to producing eggs faster. In addition, it provides MOS to trap and expel unwanted disease-causing pathogens, limiting their ability to do harm, and electrolytes to support proper hydration.

Defense is designed for intermittent feeding during times of stress and recovery and should be mixed daily for optimum freshness. It comes in a 16 oz. twin neck bottle with dosing chamber for easy and efficient measuring.

“We are already looking forward to further expanding the Backyard Boost brand later this year. We are having fun with it and are so excited to bring these products to market because we really feel we can help solve some of the challenges people are facing using research-proven ingredients like Amaferm,” Whitacre said.

Now, backyard chicken enthusiasts can rely on the same quality nutritional products that cattle, goat, sheep and pig producers have come to rely on for their quality nutrition programs. Backyard Boost – like VitaFerm® for chickens – proven to support a flourishing flock.

BioZyme Inc., has headquarters in Saint Joseph, Missouri, and has been making products to ensure animals’ health and comfort for 70 years. All supplements are American made, either in Saint Joseph, Missouri, or Lexington, Kentucky, by animal enthusiasts who know how much a person values his or her chickens. To learn more about Backyard Boost or to find a dealer near you, visit www.backyardboost.co.

The love of raising backyard birds has grown exponentially over time. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, even more people have flocked to begin their own backyard bird family. Some have added these feathered friends to their backyards for companionship, some for a constant food source of high-quality protein through the eggs that are layed, and some for an added hobby during a time of staying home more than usual.

BioZyme Inc., has been in the business of keeping animals healthy, happy and performing since the 1950s. We truly believe keeping animals feeling their best helps them perform at their best, which is why “care that comes full circle” is more than a company motto for us. It’s the way our employees and our company live our lives and conduct business. With the escalated excitement of backyard chickens, we knew it was time to develop a line of nutritional supplements designed just for these birds to keep them healthy and happy.

Let us introduce you to Backyard Boost™, a line of supplements designed to support the health, wellbeing and productivity of poultry. Backyard Boost uses only the highest quality components and proprietary ingredients proven to support your flourishing flock. BioZyme was founded on a precision based prebiotic Amaferm®, discovered 78 years ago. During that time, the research has shown Amaferm’s primary benefits include improved feed intake, increased digestion and increased absorption, meaning that animals and birds fed Amaferm will get more nutritional benefit from the feeds they are eating.

Amaferm is the key ingredient in Backyard Boost Daily Essentials and Backyard Boost Defense. Backyard Boost Daily Essentials is a daily pelleted supplement that will help ensure your chickens get the most nutritional value from what they are eating by providing them Amaferm, vitamins and minerals and additional protein to help increase egg production and additional calcium for improved eggshell and yolk quality. Backyard Boost Defense is a liquid supplement to add to your chickens’ water during times of stress and sickness. With all-natural ingredients to help your chickens start feeling better during times of sickness and stress caused by handling, environmental changes, new coop mates or other outside influences, Defense will help when your chickens get their feathers ruffled.

BioZyme continually researches its products to make sure that everything we make will do the best for all the animals that consume them. And, all products are American-made, either in Saint Joseph, Missouri, or Lexington, Kentucky, by animal lovers who know how much you value your chickens.

With a company history of 70 years making animals comfortable and healthy and the leading research proven prebiotic included in these new product lines, you’ll want to boost your backyard chickens’ health the natural way. Keep them healthy, keep them happy and keep them laying with Backyard Boost – the best way to keep your flock flourishing!

Health and performance are synergistic. When you don’t feel well, you simply don’t perform, regardless of if the task is at your job, being a nurturing parent or partner or sometimes even just with a simple task of decision making. Your feathered friends in the backyard are no different. When they are stressed or sick, they are not going to be at the top of their game. They could stop laying eggs, go off feed and water, or worse case scenario, die.

Birds are much like humans. They require the basic nutrients of life – water, sun, vitamins and minerals. They need a clean space, an area for exercise, a “bathing” area and a safe place to rest at night. It is important to provide your chickens these necessities, so they stay healthy. Not only can chickens carry and spread disease to one another, there are a handful of zoonotic illnesses (sicknesses that can be spread between species), that chickens carry. Keeping your backyard chickens healthy and happy will keep you healthy and happy too.

1. Keep a clean coop.

Arguably, chickens are not the cleanest animal you could choose to have. Its up to you to help keep their coop and outside pens clean. This includes cleaning excess manure from both the inside and outside of the coop and keeping it away from the chickens to keep insects and other parasites away. Make sure their coop and pens are dry, and if not, be sure to provide clean, dry bedding. Keep feeders and drinkers outside (when warm weather allows) and provide fresh feed and water daily. If water is spilled in the coop, clean up any damp litter, and replace with dry bedding as soon as possible. Keeping a clean coop and pen helps eliminate odor-build up and decreases the chances of fights and egg eating and breaking.

2. Give them space to roam.

Chickens need space to roam, peck for insects and get exercise. Crowded chickens are prone to cannibalism, egg eating, fighting, odor and disease. Depending on the size of breed you select, chickens typically need at minimum three to four-square feet of coop space each. By allowing them time in an outdoor pen each day, you are letting them get sunshine, fresh air, the ability to peck and eat bugs, fluff their feathers and get a dust bath.

3. Did you say dust bath?

Bathing in the dust is an important part of keeping chickens healthy and clean. A dust bath helps to remove excess oil and parasites like lice and mites, while it maintains the water resistance of the outer feathers of a chicken. Providing a dry area with fine dirt and sand in the outside pens is an important part of making sure the chickens can get their dust baths.

4. Protect them.

Although you want your feathered friends to have space to exercise and ruffle their feathers, you also want to be sure to protect them from predators. Be sure to keep them in a fenced area where they won’t be bothered by dogs, rodents or other animals. You will also want to confine them to their coop at night, as birds are prey animals. Be sure that the coop door is secure and there is no way for predators to get in and attack, hurt or kill your chickens.

5. Nutrition 101

Just like humans, good health and proper nutrition work closely together. First, be sure to provide them with fresh, nutritional feed and water each day. Next, supplement your feed regimen with a high-quality supplement like Backyard Boost™ Daily Essentials. Daily Essentials is a pelleted, natural protein supplement fully fortified with the prebiotic Amaferm®, vitamins, minerals and organic trace minerals to maximize growth and egg production and support overall flock health. It contains additional protein to support growth, feather quality, and egg production and calcium and other nutrients for natural improvement of eggshell and yolk quality. While maximizing the overall performance of your backyard chickens, it also helps improve gut health and overall wellbeing.

And if your chickens do get sick or stressed, you can provide them the relief they need with Backyard Boost Defense, a liquid supplement that promotes feed and water intake and helps support digestive health and a healthy inflammatory response. Defense also contains the precision prebiotic Amaferm to help combat the negative effects of stress and get hens back to producing eggs faster. In addition, it provides MOS to trap and expel unwanted disease-causing pathogens, limiting their ability to do harm, and electrolytes to support proper hydration.

Nutritional supplements like Backyard Boost not only help keep your chickens healthy and happy, but they also help them convert and absorb the nutrients in the feed you are already supplying them.

Keep your flock flourishing with these five health tips. For more information, visit www.backyardboost.co.

Chances are if you’ve already got your chickens pecking in your backyard, you had a reason for getting them. Maybe you wanted “farm fresh eggs” or perhaps you were looking for a small animal project to keep you and your family busy during this extended time of staying home.

Chickens are a lot of work, but anything worth doing is going to take work. However, the advantages are plentiful. You want fresh eggs; you’re going to work for them. But the satisfaction of eating a scrambled or fried egg that you raised is like nothing else! Just like anything that is “home-grown” whether it is an egg or garden produce, the eggs your chickens raise will taste much better than those that come from the store. While you’re raising your own food, you will be rewarded in a variety of way.

1. Chickens are great teachers.

You might not think a small bird could teach you so much, but they can. According to one online publication, many families get backyard chickens to teach their kids responsibilities. They make great 4-H projects too. Here are few of the lessons that your feathered friends will teach you:

Good things come to those who wait. Most chickens will lay one egg/chicken per day. Some breeds don’t lay daily, but they will lay 3-4 eggs per week. Remember, your chickens won’t lay until they reach maturity; but the months of caring for them until that point will teach you many lessons, give you a chance to bond and teach you that lesson in patience.

Clean the coop. The health and therefore the productivity of a chicken relies on a clean coop. And since they can’t clean up after themselves, they need you to do that for them. Make sure they have clean, dry bedding, and that excess manure is hauled away.

Reap what you sow. Gathering eggs is a fun way to get into the nitty gritty of raising chickens. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of going into the coop and filling the wire mesh basket my mom gave me with fresh eggs. This is a great chore for younger people who you are trying to teach responsibility to. Don’t have kids? That’s ok, because it is a great way to bond with animals, get outside and away from technology for a little bit every day.

Eggs make dough. Depending on your family size and the number of chickens you have, you might be overrun with eggs. This would be a fun way to smart a small side business for you or your kids with selling eggs to friends, neighbors or at a local farmer’s market. You can make some side money along with having fun with your chickens.

2. Chickens offer companionship and entertainment.

Just like any animal, each chicken has a distinct personality. They can and usually will show affection to their caretakers, especially when tamed down at a young age. Each breed has its own level of docility. Chickens are entertaining to watch as they peck at insects and worms, trying to get natural snacks. Not only are these backyard birds great entertainers, but they also offer health benefits. Being around animals has also shown to decrease stress and improve a person’s overall health.

3. Chickens act as insect and weed control.

Unlike humans, chickens like pesky little things like bugs and weeds. Put your chickens to work for you as natural insect and weed control. If you have a well-maintained harvested garden, chickens will eat the weeds in the garden and help control the population of unwanted pests like crickets, grasshoppers, snails and slugs.

4. Chickens provide fertilizer.

Speaking of your lawn and garden, chickens provide a nutrient-rich, natural fertilizer. With your chickens, you’ll save money on fertilizer at the store. Chicken manure contains the three primary ingredients in most lawn and garden fertilizers: nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Compost the manure you clean from your pen and coop to add to your flowers or garden, save money and see some wonderful results.

5. Chickens are the original garbage disposal.

Chickens will eat many of the scraps that humans might not eat. You can count on your chickens to enjoy vegetable and fruit peels, salad leftovers, rice, nuts and fruit. Be sure to only feed your chickens what they can eat, so the food doesn’t spoil, attracting more insects to your backyard.

Yes, the fresh eggs might require a little effort, but the rewards are worth it! A small package can provide companionship, entertainment, pest control, fertilizer and more. Take care of your feathered friends and make sure you have a flourishing flock.