Adding pea protein powder to layer pellets

[Hardknockshomestead]

Hi everyone!
Do any of you know how much pea protein powder could be mixed in with 15 percent layer pellets to raise the protein percent of my laying hens' feed?
The pea protein powder is 80 percent by weight.
Anyone know how much I should add in to raise the protein to 20 percent? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I love a good math problem!

So 1 # of feed is 15% protein.
And 1 # of pea powder is 80% protein.

Equals 95/2... if you did equal ratios would give 47.5% protein.

15% +15% + 80% = 110/3= 36.6%... just working it out here!

15, 15, 15, 80= 125/4= 31.25%... almost there...

15 x 4+ 80= 140/5= 28% at 4 pounds of feed to 1 pound powder.

15 x 6+ 80= 170/7= 24%

15 x 8 + 80= 200/9= 22.22%

15 x 9+ 80= 215/10= 21.5% at 1 # powder to 9 # of feed.

15 x 10 + 80= 230/11= 20.9%... AT 10 to 1!

15 x 11 + 80= 245/12= 20.4% at 11 to 1...

15 x 12 + 80= 260/13... Exactly 20% protein at a ratio of 12 # of feed to 1 pound of pea powder.

While protein is absolutely important... I can't help but mention that not all protein is created equal... and chickens NEED the amino acids that come from animal protein. Even though many of our formulated rations are vegetarian they add the amino acids in. What's nice about the pea powder is probably low in fat... but don't forget it is OK to offer things like cooked meat, tuna, meal worms... even chicken.

I would also expect the pea powder to be expensive and difficult to get mixed (stuck together) without wetting or fermenting.

It would be easiest... to just get a higher protein ration in the future if you can.

Sprouting whole peas would also be an awesome alternative to the powder... if you could find them.

Good luck and good looking out for your birds nutrition.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Peas are legumes and chickens won't eat most legumes readily. I know that the soybean meal in chicken food is made from a legume but it has been cooked (usually roasted) and the soybean oil has been squeezed out. This makes the soybean meal palaptable to chickens. So be sure that any pea powder has been roasted or steamed and that the resulting oil has been expelled.

Peanuts are also a legume and if none of you have pigged out on raw goober peas in yo mama's garden, then you have never experienced a proper belly ache. It won't do your hens any real harm but shell out a dozen or two RAW peanuts and toss them to your hens and see if they will eat them or not.

 

[Hardknockshomestead]

Eggsighted, thank you! Math was never my strongest subject! Nice how you broke it all down for me, as I can now remember how to do that from here on out.
The protein I have is cooked pea meal. From what I have learned doing research, chickens do prefer animal protein. It stands to reason that the best diet for any animal is the food closest to what that animal would get in its natural, wild state.
I love keeping chickens! I also love the fun challenge of keeping them healthy and happy!

 

[Hardknockshomestead]

Chickegeorgeto, I have never eaten peanuts that way, but always wanted to try boiled peanuts. I'll have to come down south some day just to try it!