In a nutshell, chickens are omnivores rather than vegetarians or strictly seed eaters. Vegetarian feeds (most of them) by necessity, have some amino acids added as synthetics because those tend to be very limited in grains and legumes.
I recommend one study the concept of 'limiting amino acids'.
And when studying it, understand that not all amino acids are necessary in the same amounts.
Many amino acids can be formulated by the body from other amino acids. I think chickens have 13 amino acids that must be included in the diet. If a certain non-essential amino acid is deficient, it can cause an essential amino acid to be used up more in making that one and thereby causing a deficiency of that normally adequate dietary element.
Carrying the principle of limiting amino acids a step further, providing a high crude protein diet that is still deficient in one or more essential amino acids still causes all those other amino acids to be discarded in the feces, thereby wasting them and creating ammonia in the bedding and possibly issues with the processing by the liver.
https://projects.ncsu.edu/project/swine_extension/nutrition/nutritionguide/protein and amino acids/protaa.htm
http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informa...rmationmodule=1017786502&topicorder=3&maxto=7
https://agric4profit.com.ng/2017/11...in-and-the-principle-of-limiting-amino-acids/
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/vmi/2012/394189/
We rely on feed manufacturers to take all these things into consideration, which they do quite well and normally all we have to do is select a crude protein percentage we prefer. However, when people augment their feed with other things, or worse yet, try to formulate their own feed, all these things then become critical concerns.
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