tenaki
Chirping
Hi!
I'm in Melbourne, Australia and have been trying to figure out what to buy to feed the chooks with...
We've been giving them: https://www.petbarn.com.au/peckish-performance-poultry-layer-mix-18kg
And they're pretty happy with it (even though they mostly ignore the pellets and just eat all the grains)
It says it's 18% protein, so we figured it's what was *required*. They also get to free range a bit in our backyard, and I know we've seen them slurping up worms and other grubs.
Recently however, we've been hearing from friends who are feeding their own chooks with food that is anywhere from 15-17% protein, and their chooks are all still healthy and happy.
Some use this: https://www.lauckemills.com.au/products/category/QHGILBDD-red-hen-range/5447
Another uses this: https://www.bestfriendspets.com.au/p/528027-peters-free-range-poultry-mix-bird-food-20kg
Both of those are 15%.
Another uses this: https://www.greenvalleygrains.com/product-page/open-range-poultry-mix
Haven't been able to find how much protein that one has.
So what I'm trying to find out is...... Are there other Melbourne backyard chook owners here, and what do they feed their chooks?
And what *is* the required protein actually required in feed?
I've seen 18% as the bare minimum, but that's probably not strictly true. For one thing, given how my chooks are ignoring most of the pellets, I'm pretty sure they aren't getting the full 18% that the manufacturer tells me is in their food. I'm assuming that my chooks also get additional protein from other sources whilst free ranging?
Thank you!
I'm in Melbourne, Australia and have been trying to figure out what to buy to feed the chooks with...
We've been giving them: https://www.petbarn.com.au/peckish-performance-poultry-layer-mix-18kg
And they're pretty happy with it (even though they mostly ignore the pellets and just eat all the grains)
It says it's 18% protein, so we figured it's what was *required*. They also get to free range a bit in our backyard, and I know we've seen them slurping up worms and other grubs.
Recently however, we've been hearing from friends who are feeding their own chooks with food that is anywhere from 15-17% protein, and their chooks are all still healthy and happy.
Some use this: https://www.lauckemills.com.au/products/category/QHGILBDD-red-hen-range/5447
Another uses this: https://www.bestfriendspets.com.au/p/528027-peters-free-range-poultry-mix-bird-food-20kg
Both of those are 15%.
Another uses this: https://www.greenvalleygrains.com/product-page/open-range-poultry-mix
Haven't been able to find how much protein that one has.
So what I'm trying to find out is...... Are there other Melbourne backyard chook owners here, and what do they feed their chooks?
And what *is* the required protein actually required in feed?
I've seen 18% as the bare minimum, but that's probably not strictly true. For one thing, given how my chooks are ignoring most of the pellets, I'm pretty sure they aren't getting the full 18% that the manufacturer tells me is in their food. I'm assuming that my chooks also get additional protein from other sources whilst free ranging?
Thank you!