High protein feed for breeders

[Trish1974]

Not that long ago I read a post in a thread (can't remember which one) where a breeder stated they fed their breeders a high protein feed before hatching their eggs (thinking it was 21% or 24%). The only feed that comes to my mind is broiler feed but yet I have seen debates over feeding non-broilers broiler feed. Can anyone suggest a brand of feed that would fit this description? Thank you.

 

[chickens really]

I don't know but I breed my Birds and they all eat Grower/Finisher..16% protein and my eggs are healthy and all babies thrive. I provide oyster shell in a separate dish.

 

[Naser]

I feed my hens both layer pellets 16% proteins and starter crumbs 20% protein in two separate feeders, I put oyster shell in a another feeder, I get better egg production this way, I thought the hens will eat only the high protein feed, they use both feeders equally.

 

[keesmom]

I'm not sure if Blue Seal is available where you are, but their gamebird crumbles (renamed multi-flock chick n game starter/grower) is 22%. Purina's flock raiser is 20%.

 

[centrarchid]

I am using a 2 to 3 mixture of 16% crude protein layer pellets and game bird starter with a minimum 24% crude protein. Soon I will be adding a little paprika to keep the eggs colored up with birds doing sustained laying. The mixture beyond the layer feed seems to be more important with birds that have been laying a lot and are late in the season. My American Dominiques need the loving while the games which do not produce as many eggs do not need the help.

 

[GC-Raptor]

Not that long ago I read a post in a thread (can't remember which one) where a breeder stated they fed their breeders a high protein feed before hatching their eggs (thinking it was 21% or 24%). The only feed that comes to my mind is broiler feed but yet I have seen debates over feeding non-broilers broiler feed. Can anyone suggest a brand of feed that would fit this description? Thank you.

Nutrena Naturewise Meatbird feed is 22% Protein and available at TSC.

. Supply Oyster Shells separately for Calcium. There's not enough in this feed.
Good luck with your Breeding. GC

 

[centrarchid]

If your hens are laying only a couple dozen eggs or less before going broody, then you will likely not need to do much in the way of supplementing with calcium as the hens will have much of what is needed stored in the medullary bone.

 

[Alaskan]

A couple years back I did an experiment (small, so unscientific experiment, and kept no records...sorry) with my own eggs.


For the experiment I fed only pellets verses pellets plus a heavy addition of animal grade nutritional yeast. I started 2 weeks before collecting eggs.

The eggs whose parents had had the nutritional yeast hatched faster, and were more active and healthier.