Feeding while molting

[dr1939]

Do the chicken need anything different in their diet while molting. I am still feeding scratch and cracked corn.

 

[aoxa]

What do you feed as their basic feed?

They should have higher protein while molting.

 

[dr1939]

I have been feeding them laying scratch and cracked corn.

 

[1muttsfan]

Do you mean layer feed, pellets or crumbles? Scratch is a mix of whole grains. Laying feed is fine, but both scratch and corn have high fat and lower protein, so should be fed in limited(small ) quantities. Chickens need adequate protein in their diet to grow feathers, which, like hair and horns, are basically almost 100% protein.

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

I have never given them higher protein feed when they molt, but if you do give them higher protein feed than they don't eat as much!

 

[Brookliner]

I have been giving my bantams peanut hearts and BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) as treats along with their layer pellets ...it has worked to help them grow new feathers faster.

 

[Happy Chooks]

This year I have been mixing Flock Raiser (20% Protein) with Game bird starter (30% protein) and they are growing their feathers in much faster. In the past I've just supplemented with high protein treats, but this seems to be working better. My flock usually gets Flockraiser anyway, because I almost always have babies in the flock.

 

[Chris09]

I have never given them higher protein feed when they molt, but if you do give them higher protein feed than they don't eat as much!

Chickens will eat the same amount of feed if on a low protein feed or a high protein feed.

Chicken eat to fill there caloric needs, chickens that are fed a low calorie feed eats more than one on a high calorie feed.

Chris

 

[Chris09]

Do the chicken need anything different in their diet while molting. I am still feeding scratch and cracked corn.

Chickens should have a minimum of 18% protein at molt, better would be a feed at or around 22% protein.
Also your feed should have some sort of animal proteins and fats to help with the molt.


Chris

 

[Island Roo]

In a mixed flock (roosters, youngsters, molting hens, laying hens) would you still increase the protein?

I'm feeding 17% grower, and fermented grains (13.5%) now. They also get greens while foraging but not as many bugs now.

Maybe I should add some high protein "treats". My feed store also has turkey starter - I think its 25%.

Any suggestions?