Enhanced Protein Feed - Winter?

[Ted Brown]

You're man @ChickenCanoe has it right.
Protein is important but unless you have first lay pullets your hens are unlikely to be laying in the winter months and its the egg laying that makes the heaviest demand on protein.
I understand that chickens are much like humans with regard to protein digestion and use; there is only so much they can absorb in a given period of time so any excess to requirements gets excreted. As mentioned above, making sure the correct balance of amino acids is in the protein is vital as well as having the enzymes to digest it.
What chickens may need in cold climates is easy burn carbohydrates. Proteins are comparatively slow to digest and don't release energy as quickly as carbohydrates.
The much maligned cracked corn easy an easy way to supplement a chickens carbohydrate needs.

My pullets are first lay, most started in October. I will get the ingredient list and post for recommendations.

 

[Chicken Heel]

I feed my chickens a mixture of layer feed, mixed flock, multi grain scratch, black oil sunflower seeds and table scraps. These are supplemented by grass clippings in the warmer months of the year. In doing this, I have been fortunate to have had productive birds with minimal health issues. I do know that my flocks from years ago seemed to enjoy the feed with animal byproducts a heck of lot more than the current all plant based versions.

 

[Relleoms]

I also feed 20% flockraiser year round to all birds. For a “treat” I add water to some feed to make an oatmeal-like consistency, served in a heated dog bowl in freezing temperatures. I figure it helps them get additional water as well as nutrition when it’s really hot or really cold.

 

[Folly's place]

One of the 'myths' seen here, is that extra corn is needed in winter. Corn is fine, but if the birds overeat it (a favorite treat) they may end up deficient in that vital amino acid balance, for example, present in their balanced feed.
That might especially happen if a basic layer diet is feed, plus corn, plus sunflower seed, plus veggies, for example.
Will problems turn up and be obvious? Probably not, but still...
Mary

 

[Shadrach]

One of the 'myths' seen here, is that extra corn is needed in winter. Corn is fine, but if the birds overeat it (a favorite treat) they may end up deficient in that vital amino acid balance, for example, present in their balanced feed.
That might especially happen if a basic layer diet is feed, plus corn. plus sunflower weed, plus veggies, for example.
Will problems turn up and be obvious? Probably not, but still...
Mary

I'm fortunate in that cold here is rarely below -6 centigrade. I don't adjust what I feed season to season much like yourself. They get 18% protein, 1% calcium, 1.05% fat in their commercial feed. Anything else is forage and treats.
What I do do when it's cold is add a small amount of cracked corn with the 'get them out of the trees treat' in mid winter.
By a small amount I mean a level handful between say 15 chickens.
So, basically I agree with you. If you are feeding a properly balanced diet in the first place that should suffice season to season.
100 metres further up the mountain they do increase the carbohydrates available to their chickens but they do it at roost time.

 

[Folly's place]

Obviously my typing skills are deficient too; 'sunflower weed', yeah!
Mary

 

[Ted Brown]

I said this in post 1 but to elaborate as it is relevant to this discussion. Winters here have average temperature of ~-10 to -15C (5F) during December through early March; we often get -30C or lower (-22F) but generally it would be for a period of a few days only. These are absolute not wind chill numbers.

I have a 10' by 16' Woods KD coop and subscribe to the fresh air, no heat approach. I am heating water in the coop proper and provide unfrozen water in the run every morning. The current run space is under the coop, 3' of clearance and is tarped on all sides with the exception of a 4' access panel plus 2' adjacent. The coop and the run access panel face south sightly east and out of prevailing winds (normally come in from the north west).

 

[Cindy in PA]

They don't need more protein, they are more inclined to eat less in the heat, so they may not get there protein requirements as easily with a lower protein feed. So higher protein feed would be more beneficial in the summer than winter.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Extra protein is actually more important in summer when the birds eat less. It won't hurt either way.

Yes, I agree. My hens eat less than half the feed mid-summer than mid-winter. Many people here complain that egg laying drops off in summer. That happens to me. Egg production drops to less than half of spring production.
I get production back up by wetting their feed with cold water on the hot days of summer.
All it takes is a quarter cup of dry feed per 2 hens (18/20% Protein). I add enough water to make oatmeal like consistency, they love it. I feed 18/20% Protein year round. GC

 

[Ted Brown]

@Cindy in PA @GC-Raptor

Are your birds free range or restricted to a run?