black oil sunflower seeds

[shmeggs]

how much sunflower seed do you feed chickens to boost their protein

 

[Chris09]

how much sunflower seed do you feed chickens to boost their protein

To be honest sunflower seed's doesn't do much of anything for boosting protein.
In fact unless your feeding a 16% protein or less your just depleting protein.

Sunflower Seed with Hulls -
Crude Protien------16.8
Digestible Protien-13.9
Fat-------------------25.9
Fiber-----------------29.0
Nitrogen - Free----18.8
Mineral Matter-----3.1
Calcium-------------0.17
Phosphorus--------0.52

 

[Trefoil]

Sunflower seeds (BOS) in the shell aren't that high. That said, I've got ~ 50 birds. Geese, chickens, ducks, guinea fowl, turkeys, and Peas. They get about 1.5 gallons of boss daily. I ferment along with scratch which makes up about 60% of their food. I got these figures from the about home website.

• 28 percent fat
• 25 percent fiber
• 15 percent protein
• Calcium
• B vitamins
• Iron
• Vitamin E
• Potassium

 

[Trefoil]

You beat me to it. Must have posted while I was typing.

 

[shmeggs]

what is your opinion the best way to increase protein.

 

[crazyhen]

what is your opinion the best way to increase protein.

I know I have not been part of this conversation but I use a bit of Calf-Manna it is high in protein. I use it with my reg. feed when they are molting. Like now. Worst molting year I have seen in a long time.

 

[Trefoil]

I ferment my feed, which increases the useable amount of protein. I also add calf manna (25%) & brewers' yeast (14% but 16 of 20 amino acids and 14 minerals), small amounts of peanuts, wild bird seed, greens & fruits to birds caged.

 

[Chris09]

what is your opinion the best way to increase protein.

I'v use floating fish pellets.
It can range from 32 to 47 percent proteins depending on brand.

I like it a lot better than Calf Manna because the fish pellet can be bought with animal proteins in it.