How to increase protein in scratch

[Notaneggspurt]

I would recommend bagging the scratch in to quart freezer bags and freezing it and only remove a bag as needed to avoid spoilage from condensation.

I don't think you will be able to formulate the scratch mix to meet acceptable protein amounts and still maintain the other nutrition needs. If you add the protein % from each source then divide by the number of sources you'll get your average % (assuming all are equal amounts by weight). This is what I found based on labels for stuff I have.
Scratch (7%)+tuna (28%)+peas (16%)=51 ÷ 3=17%

All additives will vary in the % based on how they are processed. Factors like salt, fat, vitamins and minerals can be calculated the same.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

Peas are in the 20-25% range, depending on the variety. So you can't hurt them much by mixing half scratch, half peas (by weight)

Thanks for this info!

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I would recommend bagging the scratch in to quart freezer bags and freezing it and only remove a bag as needed to avoid spoilage from condensation.

I don't think you will be able to formulate the scratch mix to meet acceptable protein amounts and still maintain the other nutrition needs. If you add the protein % from each source then divide by the number of sources you'll get your average % (assuming all are equal amounts by weight). This is what I found based on labels for stuff I have.
Scratch (7%)+tuna (28%)+peas (16%)=51 ÷ 3=17%

All additives will vary in the % based on how they are processed. Factors like salt, fat, vitamins and minerals can be calculated the same.

Good idea. Thanks.

 

[TLCMidMichigan]

As far as feeding peas, are we talking grainery peas for fowl?

 

[Kiki]

As far as feeding peas, are we talking grainery peas for fowl?

X2. Or canned peas for humans?

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

I mentioned canned and frozen peas, so I assumed it was those kinds of peas, but maybe not. Are grainery peas like dried peas from the store?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

There are dozens of kinds of peas, like trapper peas, Austrian peas, crowder peas, cream peas, black eyed peas. What you are speaking of are probably the regular green peas that usually grace a human plate. They all vary in protein/amino acid content.
If they are the former, or any type of bean, they need to be cooked before feeding to chickens.

I think you are over complicating chicken feeding.
Add to that, adding protein from plant sources, you may believe you are providing adequate nutrition but if you are overcomplicating things, you need to understand that suggested crude protein percentages is assuming the amino balance is correct.
Chickens have about 13 amino acids considered essential. Animal proteins are complete, while vegetative sources are not. You could have a high crude protein diet yet still be deficient in multiple amino acids. At the same time, the excess protein is shed in the feces creating ammonia in the bedding.
Even vegetable based chicken feed is complete because they add what are missing like lysine and methionine in synthetic form. That's why feeding chickens with manufactured feed is so much easier than trying to overthink it and still missing the mark.

 

[Kiki]

No matter which peas you are mixing with the scratch...you should still treat it as a treat and not feed it so much or consider it a meal.

 

[Kayla's Lunch]

If they are the former, or any type of bean, they need to be cooked before feeding to chickens.

I had read that peas didn't have to be cooked. When they are included in a chicken feed, how are they cooked? I think Scratch and Peck and New Country Organics both have peas in their mixes.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I had read that peas didn't have to be cooked. When they are included in a chicken feed, how are they cooked? I think Scratch and Peck and New Country Organics both have peas in their mixes.

Field peas do not have to be cooked for chickens. Beans do need to be heat treated.