Any recommendations to increase the amount of protein for my hens?

[jsvand5]

Quote:
You would think, but you would also think that they would not make a vegetarian feed for an animal that is not a vegetarian.

 

[jsvand5]

Quote:
I actually already have catfish pellets but they are pretty large, about pea size. I'll give it a try to see if they'll eat them.

 

[Cindy in PA]

Quote:
But it does not have animal protein which was one of the OP's criteria. 20% without animal protein just means more soy.

 

[Fred's Hens]

There are times, ie, during moult, that some keepers want a higher protein. But such times are not the norm.

It is unlikely, in my experience, that a hen can actually make use of a regular diet of protein that exceeds 18 or 20%. Animal protein in feed has become more difficult to find, that much is true.

 

[CrestedGirl]

I usually use canned cat food.

 

[A.T. Hagan]

I mix a little gamebird starter into my layer feed, but not to the point of 20% though.

Currently I'm mixing three bags of 15% layer feed to one bag of 28% gamebird starter for a combined protein of 18.25%. This combination neatly fits into my feed cans, keeps egg production high, and keeps the girls in good feather. My feather picking problems went away. The brand of feed I'm using does have animal protein in it which I prefer.

 

[kuntrygirl]

A.T. Hagan :

I mix a little gamebird starter into my layer feed, but not to the point of 20% though.

Currently I'm mixing three bags of 15% layer feed to one bag of 28% gamebird starter for a combined protein of 18.25%. This combination neatly fits into my feed cans, keeps egg production high, and keeps the girls in good feather. My feather picking problems went away. The brand of feed I'm using does have animal protein in it which I prefer.

Thanks for the mixing ingredients and number of bags needed.

If I added 1 - 50lb bag of 32% protein Purina Catfish Pellets to your mixture, what would the protein increase to?​

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If you are feeding layer crumbles then mixing pellets into it may be problematical because the birds are likely to pick around them. When I mix feeds like this I try to combine like to like. Crumbles and crumbles. A mash type feed would mix well with crumbles also.

Catfish pellets are not balanced for birds, but rather for piscine species. I'm not sure that a simple average arrived at by combining two balanced poultry rations would work. You may need to do some experimenting.

 

[kuntrygirl]

A.T. Hagan :

If you are feeding layer crumbles then mixing pellets into it may be problematical because the birds are likely to pick around them. When I mix feeds like this I try to combine like to like. Crumbles and crumbles. A mash type feed would mix well with crumbles also.

Catfish pellets are not balanced for birds, but rather for piscine species. I'm not sure that a simple average arrived at by combining two balanced poultry rations would work. You may need to do some experimenting.

Good info. Thanks​

 

[jsvand5]

A.T. Hagan :

I mix a little gamebird starter into my layer feed, but not to the point of 20% though.

Currently I'm mixing three bags of 15% layer feed to one bag of 28% gamebird starter for a combined protein of 18.25%. This combination neatly fits into my feed cans, keeps egg production high, and keeps the girls in good feather. My feather picking problems went away. The brand of feed I'm using does have animal protein in it which I prefer.

I see you are in North central FL. You are probably pretty close to me. Where are you getting your feed? What brand are you using?​