Is 16% or 22% better for layers?
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Thanks for answering junebuggena! I always chose middle of the road because I really didn't know for sure. Mine free range all day every day too. I probably can reduce my protein amount? I throw about 2 cups worth of scratch everyday for them (11 chickens).It depends. Do you feed lots of treats and extras? Are they molting? Are they breeding birds? If yes to any of those questions then get the higher protein feed.
If you don't feed treats or extras, and they are laying eggs for eating only, then get the lower protein feed.
Free ranging and scratch qualify as extras. Keep them on the higher protein feed. 2 cups of scratch is way too much for 11. It's a treat or boredom buster, not a feed.Thanks for answering junebuggena! I always chose middle of the road because I really didn't know for sure. Mine free range all day every day too. I probably can reduce my protein amount? I throw about 2 cups worth of scratch everyday for them (11 chickens).
I think mine have a forage smorgasbord. We live in a forest area. They are always digging through the forest leaves and finding gobs of sprouts and worms galore. Plus there's lawn area. My feed consumption has gone WAY done since our weather has changed. They forage from 8am-5pm daily. They are only consuming about 5 cups of feed per 11 chickens per day. (My guess, I haven't measured it.)What nutrients yours get from foraging will depend on the quality of the forage. They will get some benefit if their only forage is a manicured lawn all of the same type of grass, but if they can get to an area with various weeds and different grasses, some of which go to seed, now you are talking!
If you don't feed treats or extras, and they are laying eggs for eating only, then get the lower protein feed.