Feed question—5percent increase in protein

[5 Points Wingfeather]

Went to the feed store today and got more grower feed for my 14 week old chickens. The previous feed was 18percent protein but the store switched suppliers and this new grower feed is 23 percent. Is that too much? Is that a problem at all?

 

[Perris]

I wouldn't worry about it; should be fine. You could ask in the store why they switched for further reassurance.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO, that's a little high for 14 week old birds. You can still use it and at this age you can just start giving them some scratch grains (and grit) to lower the overall protein %.
4 parts scratch to 11 parts of the new feed will give you 19% crude protein. That would be my target.
3 parts to 12 parts will net 20%.
5 parts to 10 parts will be 18%.

 

[Brooks_]

IMO, that's a little high for 14 week old birds. You can still use it and at this age you can just start giving them some scratch grains (and grit) to lower the overall protein %.
4 parts scratch to 11 parts of the new feed will give you 19% crude protein. That would be my target.
3 parts to 12 parts will net 20%.
5 parts to 10 parts will be 18%.

Wouldn't mixing with scratch dilute the vitamin/mineral profile?

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

I may let them forage more while on this feed and will maybe just buy all flock next time. They have access to grit 24/7. I was surprised it was so high when I got home. You don’t have an opportunity to look at the feed before you buy it.
What makes me nervous is they went from Nutrena to some mill down the road. I kind of trust the big company more

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Wouldn't mixing with scratch dilute the vitamin/mineral profile?

Good catch. Yes it would but at those ratios, I don't think it would be critical.
I look at vitamin and mineral levels in all the feeds I have available and am sometimes startled at what I find. I sometimes see as much as a 40% difference in fat soluble vitamins between manufacturers.

 

[Brooks_]

I sometimes see as much as a 40% difference in fat soluble vitamins between manufacturers.

That's huge.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

At the feed store I go to, (farm and home) they carry Purina, both classes of Nutrena, ADM and others. The vitamin profile is much higher in the Purina.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

That's huge.

Agreed. It is startling to me. So giving scratch in addition to a higher protein feed probably won't affect the vitamin intake by enough to matter.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@U_Stormcrow