Insect Protein for Chickens

[Cindy in PA]

Its 16% at $25.99 for 40 lbs., the 20% is all plant protein. Purina claims it has BSFL in the Layena Free Range Layer. They wont list how much of the 16% is plant or animal protein.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/purina-layena-free-range-layer-feed-40-lb-3004968-205

EDIT: On the TSC site its 16% and on the Purina site its 19%, so nobody really knows what's in it.

The High Protein 19% has BSFL. Look at the Purina site.

 

[Apis mellifera]

The High Protein 19% has BSFL. Look at the Purina site.

You're right they changed it from 16% to 19% and now call it + High Protein Layer Feed. They also changed the bag. Still doesnt answer the question of how much BSFL is in it.

https://www.purinamills.com/chicken-feed/products/detail/purina-layena-high-protein-layer-feed

 

[mossyoakpro]

Appears Tyson thinks they can make the economics work at scale...

https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/20/business/tyson-insect-ingredients/index.html

For those following as the lab science becomes the practical.

I would expect that the home feed market will eventually follow suit. (Yes, I'm aware of Grubblies - their inclusion rates are quite low). I for one, hope it catches on and fills the specialty niche currently filled by "vegan", a terrible way to try to raise chickens. It may also help to produce higher crude protein, better AA balanced "organic" feeds, for those interested in that market segment.

I'll keep an eye out around me....one of their feed mills is in our county. We have an enormous amount of Tyson chicken growers around here.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'll keep an eye out around me....one of their feed mills is in our county. We have an enormous amount of Tyson chicken growers around here.

Anticipate it will be "a while" before it takes a bigger place on the shelves for BYCers like us.

I'll happily content myself with allowing my birds to hunt creepy crawlies on my acres, but I know most aren't so fortunate.

 

[Sally PB]

Hmm... Maybe I can get a part time job harvesting Japanese Beetles for Tyson. Two hours a day during July and August. Store them in the freezer, and deliver right after Labor Day weekend to the Tyson Foods plant an hour away. Paid by the pound, of course, because who is going to count JBs even if they are frozen?

I think I'll cut out the middlemen and just feed the JBs to my chickens. I have some in my freezer.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I am hoping mine march in the grasshopper patrol next year!
It was crazy how many hoppers we had. Mine were to busy pecking tomatoes and peppers to even notice them.

 

[Morrigan]

I sorely wish my chickens would avail themselves to the moveable protein feast that are the boxelder bugs swarming their yard right now. I think it must be the red markings, but they seem entirely uninterested in them. Or maybe they are eating them, but are just sick of them by now. There are literally thousands and thousands of them out there.

 

[Folly's place]

We have a lot of these bugs too, miserable. And our chickens can't get to our front door, which is in the afternoon sun, and loaded with them.
Mary

 

[Apis mellifera]

Got this reply from Purina today:

Question: How much of the 16% protein is BSFL?

Purina Product Expert 0 days ago
Answer: I'm sorry, Purina Free Range Layer Feed is no longer being made, this product is no longer available from Purina.

 

[Krux5506]

I'd rather see insect protein in chicken feed than canola meal.