Special feed for Molting chickens...

Quote:
You can give them a some extra protein and fat when they are in molt.
To me the best source for add protein during molt is going to be animal protein (meat is best).
I use Bil-Jack Small Breed Select dog food to top dress my regular chicken feed along with that I add just a little Cod Liver Oil and Molasses.

The Bil-Jack is a good source for animal protein fat and Omega-6 and Omega-3 Fatty Acids
The Cod Liver Oil is good source for Fat, Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D
Molasses is a excellent source of Copper and Manganese and a very good source of Potassium, and Magnesium it also has Vitamin B6 and Calcium.

Remember chickens are not vegetarian there Omnivores and they can proses animal protein a lot easier and better than plant protein.


Chris

The Bil-jac sounds like a great idea to me. I once saved a dog from being put down because of skin problem by talking the owners into using Bil-Jac.
It made my Schnauser look like a million bucks, so I bet it would be a great source protein for the molt.

Mine get Flock Raiser (18% protein) all the time. I added dried mealworms this year as a treat to see how well it helps. I also supplement any leftover meats, scrambled eggs, and sometimes tuna.

Will it hurt the hens that are not molting to feed them the higher protein treats? I just got 3 black Australorps last night that are molting. None of my other hens are but I don't really have anywhere to seperate them and as soon as I walk out the door, I have an avid audience. I'm feeding a Purina 16% layer pellet/crumble mix and give them the bread, leftovers and fresh veggies as treats. On occasion, I make them some oatmeal too but they aren't spoiled at all.
I will try some of the other items you guys have listed but don't want to overdo on the non-molting birds and hurt them.

Feathers are made from protein so they need a protein boost. What is protein for you is protein for chickens. I like giving them yolks of hardboiled eggs also. Fats and oils (a pat of butter) will help keep their oil glands well stocked for preening so the feathers are shiny and healthy. Molting should be quick like a few weeks, the quicker the better but they are individual. They usually don't lay while molting either. Keep a general poultry book on hand in your personal library. That should cover the details.

What is the difference between Black Oil Sunflower Seeds and just raw sunflower seeds?

I feed my dogs hi performance dog food from the feed store. Can I give some to the girls in addition to laying crumbles and BOSS?

nanceann said:

I feed my dogs hi performance dog food from the feed store. Can I give some to the girls in addition to laying crumbles and BOSS?

Click to expand...

Not knowing the brand and type it's hard to say.

I feed my dogs bil-jac (the frozen type) and exotic canine diet, the dog do great on it.
When my birds are in molt I throw a little of this into them and they go nuts over it and they have a easy molt.

Here is the listing for bil-jac and exotic canine diet.

Bil-Jac -
Here is the listings for the dog food I use.

Bil-Jack frozen -
Beef Tripe, Chicken, Dried Bakery Product, Chicken By-Product Meal, Beef Liver, Dried Beet Pulp, Cane Molasses, Brewers Dried Yeast, Phosphoric Acid, Egg Product, Citric Acid, Choline Chloride, Calcium Carbonate, DL-Methionine, L-Lysine, Monohydrochloride, Cellulose Gum, Potassium Chloride, Zinc Proteinate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Manganese Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Ferrous Sulfate, Iron Proteinate, Inositol, Niacin Supplement, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Copper Sulfate, Riboflavin Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin A Acetate, Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Cobalt Proteinate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Cobalt Carbonate, Calcium Iodate, Folic Acid.

Exotic Canine Diet -
Ground corn, poultry by-product meal, brown rice flour, corn gluten meal, porcine animal fat, stabilized poultry fat, porcine meat meal, brewers dried yeast, poultry digest (flavor), dried beet pulp, ground soybean hulls, flash dried blood meal, dried whey, dried egg product, salt, calcium carbonate, potassium chloride, taurine, mixed tocopherols (a natural preservative; ascorbic acid, citric acid, rosemary extract, lecithin), choline chloride, dl-methionine, ferrous sulfate, inositol, zinc oxide, dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate (source of vitamin E), niacin, manganous oxide, vitamin B12 supplement, copper sulfate, calcium pantothenate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (vitamin K), vitamin A acetate, folic acid, calcium iodate, cobalt carbonate, biotin, sodium selenite, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).

About 3 time a week I'll top there game bird feed with a good floating fish pellet, I myself us a aquatic carni-blend diet.
I use the carni-blend just because thats what I use on my bigger aquarium fish.

Carni-Blend
Fish meal (menhaden), dehulled soybean meal, ground wheat, spray dried porcine blood cells, fish oil (menhaden), dried egg product, salt, dicalcium phosphate, carrageenan, Primalac (Lactobacillus cultures: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Bifido bacterium bifidium, Enterococcus faecium), Betaine (a chemo attractant for fish), lecithin, brewers dried yeast, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (stabilized vitamin C), mixed tocopherols (preservative, form of vitamin E; citric acid, rosemary extract), choline chloride, manganese sulfate, tagetes (Aztec marigold) extract (color), niacin, calcium pantothenate, d-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (natural source of vitamin E), cobalt carbonate, zinc proteinate, menadione sodium bisulfite complex (source of vitamin K), manganese proteinate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, calcium iodate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, canthaxanthin (color), tribasic copper chloride, copper proteinate, dl-methionine, folic acid, calcium carbonate, vitamin A acetate, sodium selenite, biotin, cobalt proteinate, vitamin B12 supplement, ethylenediamine dihydroiodide, cholecalciferol (vitamin D3).

Thank you. I am rather new to raising chickens and really appreciate any info.