How much protein is too much?

[EggyErin]

Or is this even an issue with laying hens? My only knowledge is with horses: If they get more than they need, they excrete it and their urine smells awful. I don't want the chicken poo to smell any worse than it already does! I feed an 18% grain along with their laying mash. The girls are outside all day so they nibble that in the morning before I let them out and sometimes come back to the coop for a snack. If I decide to change their feed, I'd like to know if there is a protein limit.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Your hens are well fed at 18% plus ranging. That's plenty. Very few feed a higher ratio than that.

 

[briteday]

Like most animals, excess protein is excreted by the kidneys. So if your birds are doing fine on what you're feeding them I'd stick with the current program.