Chicken Pecking Order that has gotten out of hand...

[Tutu of 5]

I have only seen Bossy do this....and only to the EE's. So I don't know if it is a protein deficiency.

I originally had them on layer's pellets and have recently switched them to the Purina Flock Raiser last week (20% protein, right?) To that I add a handful of oyster shell, 1 cup of 3-way scratch and 3/4 or so cup of mealworms. Twice per day, if needed. I will soon be raising my own mealworms, so they'll get this live instead of dried. They also forage all day and love the worms and coqui frogs they find.

I have their feeders hanging in the coop and they always have feed in them, so they can eat whenever they want to.

I also feed oat and wheat groats, and ground oatmeal with some raisins mixed in.

For a treat in the morning they get wheat berry sprouts and mung bean sprouts with shredded carrots.

I read on this forum that a low protein problem could be assisted by giving boiled eggs or tuna. Should I add some of that or does their diet sound ok?

Mahalo again, everyone! I will "jail" Bossy again tonight and see how everyone does tomorrow.

I have a feeling that she is terrorizing my little PR hen "Braveheart" as his foot continues to bleed and he's hiding under the jacuzzi.

Sigh...

 

[Chris09]

Well, I'm certainly no nutritionist, but do I know that all protein is not equal--mainly that animal protein is a more complete source of the essential amino acids and that animal proteins are more readily and rapidly used by the human body than plant proteins. (At least that's what I understand to be the case.) Does the same go for chickens?

More or less yes.
Animal proteins is a great source of amino acids, and chickens will get animal protein any way possible. If that mean that they eat feathers of peck a bird to death they will.
Also in the winter months animal proteins help with body heat, it takes a little more energy and lasts longer in there system than the plant and synthetic proteins that are found in poultry feeds.

Quote: That is a far better way of saying it.

Example being I can feed my free range hens a 12% protein feed that has animal proteins in it and the look and do great but if I put those same hens on a 16% protein vegetarian type feed like a low end Purina, Blue-seal, or NatureWise etc. they look like crap, poor feathering, low egg production, etc.

To me it is always better to feed a good poultry feed that has animal proteins in it than one that doesn't. You'll a around better birds.

I'm not a nutritionist either but have done a good bit of homework on the subject. lol

 

[glib]

concur. chickens and pigs are omnivores, but chickens are much more carnivorous. the same with fat. pigs can make great fat with only plant matter, but chickens need fat to make fat. one of the great advantages of free ranging (probably the greatest) is that they get adequate amounts of fresh proteins at zero cost. with a good amino acid profile too.

 

[TalkALittle]

if I put those same hens on a 16% protein vegetarian type feed like a low end Purina, Blue-seal, or NatureWise etc. they look like crap, poor feathering, low egg production, etc.

Ok, now I'm depressed. Those brands are pretty much all I have access to. Currently I'm feeding Purina Flockraiser for the 20% protein, but you're saying I would do better to offer a feed that might have a lower overall protein content but contain some animal protein. I can get Nutrena, Purina, Blue Seal, and Poulin Grains brands. Do you know if any of these feeds have a formulation with animal protein?

I'd prefer the convenience of feeding a commercial feed rather than having to think about adding a bunch of stuff to their diet. I think I have heard of supplementing with fish meal which does sound easy enough, but I only have 9 birds total and it would take me forever to go through the 50lb. bag of fish meal that I could get. I can get Farmer's Helper Ultra Kibble which I think is very high in protein from fish meal (29%) but it is pretty expensive. Do you recommend that, and if so, how much?

Any other suggestions for a way to increase their animal protein intake but in a calculated way so I don't feel as though I'm going about it all willy-nilly?

Oh, and to the OP: Sorry about basically hijacking your thread. Do keep us posted on how Bossy is behaving.

 

[Tutu of 5]

No worries on the "hi-jacking"...lol I learn something every time someone responds....to me or otherwise.

I would like your opinions on whether I should add some tuna or cooked eggs to my girls diet's tho', after seeing what I am now feeding them (above).

Do you think the feather eating is a protein deficiency if it is only 1 out of 6 girls doing it?

I sprayed more antibiotic on Braveheart's foot tonight and then put the Blue-Kote stuff on (which stains and is actually purple...lol)

The area the original bite occurred is on the bend in the third toe on the bottom of the foot, so every time she bumps that area, jumping up or down or walking on a rock or whatever, she seems to bust it back open and it bleeds again.

Any suggestions on how to "bandage" it to keep it from breaking open over and over? Do you ever use band-aids on chickens? Or even the liquid band-aid stuff for humans?

Thanks!!

 

[glib]

I think, of the common kitchen scraps, the most effective at balancing aminoacids are egg whites. they are the richest source of methionine amongst human foods and within 20% of the richest source of lysine (which is chicken meat). but there are solutions if you have connections. you can get rabbit pelts and rabbit guts if you know anyone with rabbits, or carp if you know anyone who shoots them with a bow, but many chicken owners find a way to have some type of worm farm (mealworms, red wigglers and BSF being the most popular). I have room outside and have a pile of leaves composting, about 15X10 ft. the worms there can feed nine chickens for a long time.

 

[Tutu of 5]

Yes, mealworms is what I will be "growing" in a 15X12 raised bed. I have to wait for the AG dept to send me my permit number as, living here in Hawai'i, the bringing in of everything live is inspected and controlled.

I have a composter, but it is a contained system, and is above ground. Once I spread the contents on my fruit trees, the girls will have a hay day with worms, I expect.

So, do you think I need to add more protein to the girl's diets then?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I think they get a bit too much in treats. As for the protein you give them meal worms daily.

Bottom line, butcher and eat the culprit bird. She's a headache to you and your flock. She'll be better served hot.

 

[Chris09]

Ok, now I'm depressed. Those brands are pretty much all I have access to. Currently I'm feeding Purina Flockraiser for the 20% protein, but you're saying I would do better to offer a feed that might have a lower overall protein content but contain some animal protein. I can get Nutrena, Purina, Blue Seal, and Poulin Grains brands. Do you know if any of these feeds have a formulation with animal protein?

If you have a Purina dealer you should be able to get Purina Wildlife, ask them if they can get the Purina Wildlife Game Bird Flight Conditioner with animal proteins.
It's a 19% protein and is way better than anything Blue Seal or Nutrena is putting out plus is a lot better than the flockraiser.

If you cant get the Purina Wildlife Game Bird Flight Conditioner with the animal proteins then you could use the regular Purina Wildlife Game Bird Flight Conditioner and top dress there feed with a pond fish pellet that has animal proteins or even offer Bil-jac frozen dog food to them. The bil-jac is nearly all meat and I use it now and then myself. Great stuff.

 

[shorttimer]

My suggestion is to find a balanced feed containing no GMOs. In some parts of the country it's hard to find, which is a bummer. It has been said, on several threads, that it is a strong possibility that GMOs can cause aggressive behavior. OK, I admit that my belief is strong about GMOs, however I'm willing to spend a few extra $$ to not find out if I'm wrong. A lot of us treat our pets as family & want the absolute best we can do for them.