Too much protein

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Schroeder

Schroeder

Crowing
14 Years
Nov 9, 2008
578
40
264
Central Indiana
My Coop
My Coop
Is there such a thing as feeding too much protein? I switched to Purina Flock Raiser to get the 20+% protein because my chickens were plucking (eating?) feathers. That didnt' solve the problem but that is a different issue. Should I revert back to Layena in the spring when they start laying more heavily? I have oyster shell always availabe so that is not a consideration. I guess my real question is if there is a reason other than relative cost why you shouldn't always feed a high protein ration.
 
Animals tend to eat to a certain protein level to meet their body's needs and stop. If you feed higher protein feed, they just eat a little less. There is no reason that a higher protein feed is bad for roosters. People often believe that high protein is bad for the kidneys, but this belief doesn't hold up to scientific scrutiny. LAYER MIX can be bad for roosters because of the extra calcium in it for the hens.

I have ducks and feed high protein game bird feed. I offer free choice oyster shells because I have a drake.

If you do switch back, keep an eye on things and see if the feed disappears quicker.
 
I feed a 22% protein Game Bird Crumble. It's all I feed other than some scratch grain. I feed it from the day they hatch to the day they die. They grow well on it, have great feather quality, lay well & hatch well.
I don't know of any reason not to feed a higher protein. My experience with this feeding program has been totally positive. I'd love to know why "high protein is not good for cocks".
Another advantage of the feeding program I follow is there's no wondering who gwts what feed, there's only one feed. Don't have to decide when to change feed either.
 
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I do something similar, and the feed isn't adequate in calcium, so I augment with free-choice oyster shell. I also augment with clearance fish from the store (super cheap salmon, etc) and brown rice casserole I make with food scraps from the kitchen.

It makes a difference, I feel, to give better nutrition, particularly when they haven't the choices outside because the world is a foot deep in snow.
 
If your feed is too high in protein it will affect the fertility of the cocks.
At least this is what I have been taught and what I have learned from experience with both Games and Orientals.

Understand I live in the South. Quite often the feed we use receives it's protein value from cotton seed meal. saladin
 
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I sure wish this were true. Maybe you could come tell the 400 chickens that I have running around this because my feedbill is just way to high! This is just laughable. I can hardly wait to share this with the flock. saladin
 
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High protien feed will NOT effect the heavier breeds like duel purpose chickens. They NEED it to grow right. Light breeds like you mention games and leghorn do not need it as they a smaller chickens in body. They do not have the muscle the bigger chickens have. 16% will be good for a light breed but is NOT enough for a heavier breed. This is a well known fact. ABLC even mentions this for breeding all heritage stock and recomends higher than I do at 20% they say 28%.

Again nothing is the standard across the board when it comes to different breeds. To think it does it crasy and uneducated talk. Just because you were told it for your breed does not mean it is fact for others. The only reason most chicken feed is 16% is because it is cheap to make it that way. Not because it is what is best for your chickens.
 

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