I only have 16% layer.....will I have to avoid feeding treats?

[Kim_NC]

Quote:
You should be fine as long as you don't feed a lot of extras like feed store scratch. Feed store scratch is only about 9% protein and will drop the protein of your Layer down fast.
Lets say you feed 90% Layer to 10% scratch the protein of there feed is only 15.30% protein now.
80% Layer to 20% Scratch and now your feed is 14.6% protein.

Now if you are going to feed a higher protein feed watch feeding to much Black Oil Sunflower Seed there only 16% protein and will drop the protein just like scratch...
Lets say you feed a 20% protein feed this is what it work out to.
90% feed to 10% BOSS is now a 19.5% protein feed.
80% feed to 20% BOSS is now a 19.0% protein feed.

Chris

I feed 20% pellets and treats of veggies, scratch, etc (what have you) that amount to not more than 10-15% of total feed. Using that regiment, our flocks never fall below 17% total protein, even if the treats have no protein at all.

Also...can you get a game bird crumble? Many of these are 24%, 28% or even 32% protein. You can use one of these as a portion of the flock's diet along with a layer feed and treats to keep the total protein at >16%. I use game bird crumble as a protein boost for molting birds, etc.

 

[Kiwibird]

Higher protein supplements include soaked or sprouted wheat, soaked or spouted maize (corn), soaked lucerne (alfalfa), and cat food.

If feeding meat and cheese scraps, be careful about the salt levels in these foods, as salt can weaken eggshells and is generally not that useful for chickens.

If feeding chick starter to point of lay birds, consider whether it is medicated and what the recommended withholding period for eggs may be.