Krux5506
Chirping
Hopefully this doesn't come off as long winded but after reading extensively through this forum topic of feeding it didn't take me long to be convinced to switch from 16% layer feed to a higher protein (22%) chick feed for my entire flock, with shell on the side. I made the switch around November of this year when a few of my girls were enduring a mild molt, and none of them were laying at all. Once I got them onto that higher protein feed, I would say within 3 or so weeks one by one they started laying again, and even some of the younger pullets began laying their first eggs in the midst of our darker and colder winter days. I have a copper maran who's still holding out from laying her first but any day now I bet she will, her comb is quite telling.
What's interesting, though possibly coincidental to note is this. When my first layers (5 of them) began laying this past summer in July/August, they were on layer feed. This was the 16% feed, non soy from Modesto. Most of their eggs were fine, but double yolkers seemed fairly common, as well as a few shell-less or just soft shelled eggs here and there. During this time I also always had oyster shell on the side so calcium really should not have been any issue between the feed and extra shell. Fast forward to this winter when the next round of birds has started laying, all while on the higher protein feed, and not once now in 2 months have any of those birds laid any odd eggs. No double yolkers, no soft shelled eggs, nothing weird at all to speak of. Every egg has been completely normal. Most now even have a heavier bloom on them, which I would think is indicative of excess calcium.
This got me wondering about protein levels and how they can coincide with higher quality eggs if at all. I recall reading a study from BYC someone posted a while back showing results of incubated eggs based on their protein levels of their feeds, 22% showing the highest success rates. Would this type of egg quality also explain why my newly laying pullets haven't had one wonky egg yet? Does the feed industry and chicken people in general tend to put far too much emphasis on calcium rather than protein? My original intent was to keep them on higher protein feed for the winter time, but now I'm wondering if I should just stick with it year round...
What's interesting, though possibly coincidental to note is this. When my first layers (5 of them) began laying this past summer in July/August, they were on layer feed. This was the 16% feed, non soy from Modesto. Most of their eggs were fine, but double yolkers seemed fairly common, as well as a few shell-less or just soft shelled eggs here and there. During this time I also always had oyster shell on the side so calcium really should not have been any issue between the feed and extra shell. Fast forward to this winter when the next round of birds has started laying, all while on the higher protein feed, and not once now in 2 months have any of those birds laid any odd eggs. No double yolkers, no soft shelled eggs, nothing weird at all to speak of. Every egg has been completely normal. Most now even have a heavier bloom on them, which I would think is indicative of excess calcium.
This got me wondering about protein levels and how they can coincide with higher quality eggs if at all. I recall reading a study from BYC someone posted a while back showing results of incubated eggs based on their protein levels of their feeds, 22% showing the highest success rates. Would this type of egg quality also explain why my newly laying pullets haven't had one wonky egg yet? Does the feed industry and chicken people in general tend to put far too much emphasis on calcium rather than protein? My original intent was to keep them on higher protein feed for the winter time, but now I'm wondering if I should just stick with it year round...