are my chickens getting enough protein

[lisamcconnell]

I do have another question regarding protein for laying hens. I just started making my own mix. It includes wheat grass seeds, barley, oats, peas, flax seed, and sunflower seeds. I had planned on giving red wiggler worms as the protein source but it will be a while before I have enough worms to start feeding. My chickens are free range all day long. Do you think I should find another protein source in the mean time or are they getting enough protein from their mix and foraging?

thanks!
Lisa

 

[ronniega1]

i have heard of feeding them the dry soft cat food i used to feed them to my poultry when i lived in north carolina, but i have not started feed my new babies this yet...but i intend to the others loved it....ronnie:cd

 

[BearSwampChick]

I think most people give their chickens cat food only if they've been under some stress, such as after molting. Chicken feathers consist of a high percentage of protein, so it helps grow them back faster. Your hens should be getting enough protein, I think. I'm no expert though.

 

[ashyannehand]

Sounds a little crazy, but I give mine leftover chicken cut up or shredded. They love it.

I also give them cooked beans, another good source of protein.

Good luck!

 

[JennsPeeps]

My girls got a few nibbles of their cousin...
...I mean CHICKEN...
last night.

(It was store bought & I burned it on the BBQ.)

 

[andy]

oh sounds nice,,, i might eat my cousin tommorow,,lol

 

[geareduplyn]

Feeding earthworms is not good. They may be getting enough protein from free ranging, but if you want a steady supply of eggs a good layer mix should contain from 16 to 22 percent protein, along with a calcium supplement. Do you have a copy of "Feeds and Feeding" by Morrison?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

If you followed a recipe or kept track of the volume of the ingredients you mixed together, you could probably look it up on one of the internet sites. You'd be looking for the total percent of protein in the feed and I'd also calculate the methionine amounts, as that amino acid tends to be limited in plant based protein. The sunflower seeds have some, but I don't know how much. Your red wigglers also contain it. If you're short, I think fish also works or any animal protein. You could also look at insects that can be cultured. I'm sure there's a site available online that has details of what the nutritional requirements of chickens are, so you know what you are aiming for.

In general, your ingredients sound good, there's just no way to have an answer without doing a little math.

 

[digitS']

Lisa, it would be hard to say if the hens are getting sufficient protein. Grain and seeds vary by variety and field with regards to protein. Processing also changes the nutrients available.

With a lot of feed on their range, they could be better than just OK, nutritionally. That looks to me like a healthful mix but proportions count.

Here's information from the USDA National Nutrient Database. You'll find that oats are about 17% protein. Flaxseed is about 18%.

Here's a link to "Nutrient Requirements of Poultry" from the National Research Council - check out the "Nutrient Requirements of Chickens" info. It gets a little complex following these foods, nutrients, and requirements very far.

Having a healthful selection and wide choice should help the hens a good deal.

Steve

 

[lisamcconnell]

ah, don't want to do the math! But I will! Just seems like it shouldn't be so complicated.

anyone know if it matters whether protein comes from vegetarian source or meat source?

thanks everyone for your responses!

Lisa