Feather eating

[Ajoy1955]

What is the highest protein of layer feed can I give my chickens on a regular basis? I have a hen who eats feathers and will help herself with the tasty down feathers of her flock mates…,

 

[aart]

Higher protein layer feed can be hard to find.
I think I've read about 20%, and have read about 18%.

I feed 20% Flock Raiser and provide a side dish of Oyster Shell.
No treats except a bit of daily scratch grains spread in the run.


Feather picking can be about way more than feed levels.
More often it's about crowding.

 

[nuthatched]

There are many higher protein layers on the market any more, country companion and nutrena both have high protein layers and there are other brands.
You can also feed an all flock, chick feed etc with access to oyster shell.

 

[Ajoy1955]

Higher protein layer feed can be hard to find.
I think I've read about 20%, and have read about 18%.

I feed 20% Flock Raiser and provide a side dish of Oyster Shell.
No treats except a bit of daily scratch grains spread in the run.


Feather picking can be about way more than feed levels.
More often it's about crowding.

My run is 14ftx40ft with only 6 hens so it is definitely not a crowding issue, plenty stimulation in their run… so I am suspicious that it is a protein issue… I am currently feeding them Nutrena Feather Fixer, free choice, and in the afternoon they get a fermented feed (snack )made with Henhouse reserve…I may have to add a grower feed to add more protein

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Despite being made from 90% protein and it's amino acids.. feathers in their raw form have only 2% digestible protein according to my research.