? low in protein intake

[ladrholman]

I recently put one of my light brahma girls into isolation. I noted she was sorta weeble wooble like. Seems fine otherwise. Eating and drinking and pooping fine. I had just brought her sister out who I had to isolate from weeble wooble since she was pulling out her newly appearing feathers from molt. I posted this issue in the emergency forum and was informed it could be a protein deficiency.(the woobling and feather picking and eating) I noted that though fluffy you can feel their breast bone quite well. They have ample access to lay mash and I give treats occasionally. Is there something more I should be adding to their food for a protein boost? Weeble got salmon(no sodium) and eggs so far. I have many other girls and 2 roos. It has been cold and I know they would require more caloric intake. Do people regularly add other supplements? I don't like my girls being skinny. I am unsure how much the brahma girls are laying. I have seen one in the box on occasion and I recently got an egg that I only hope came from one of the brahmas since they are the largest of my girls... this egg was ridiculously large... any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[PepsNick]

That sounds the case, I have an EE with the same thing and practically silkie feathers but she's getting better.

You can feed meat and scrambled eggs as a supplement along with their feed and/or just switch to a higher protein feed.

 

[ladrholman]

I called a local feed site and they have the game bird mix which is higher protien. I will get some of that and try some more supplements for everyone. For meat??? What sorts? Are meal worms an option too? I have never given them those. I have 36 birds so I will need lots... they love treats. Can you feed them too much protein. Is it common for them to need more protien in the winter? they free range in the nicer months so likely get lots then I suspect.

 

[Chris09]

This may help you some.

Protein -
Protein is essential to the structure of red blood cells, for the proper functioning of antibodies resisting infection, for the regulation of enzymes and hormones, for growth, and for the repair of body tissue. Protein can be naturally produced in the body from processing Amino Acids, but can be supplemented as raw protein also.

Sources
• Meat and Fish
• Dairy Products
• Eggs
• Whole grains
Information from Ultimate Fowl

Amino acid -
In chemistry, an amino acid is a molecule containing both amine and carboxyl functional groups. These molecules are particularly important in biochemistry, where this term refers to alpha-amino acids with the general formula H2NCHRCOOH, where R is an organic substituent.[1] In the alpha amino acids, the amino and carboxylate groups are attached to the same carbon, which is called the α–carbon. The various alpha amino acids differ in which side chain (R group) is attached to their alpha carbon. They can vary in size from just a hydrogen atom in glycine through a methyl group in alanine to a large heterocyclic group in tryptophan.

Amino acids are critical to life, and have a variety of roles in metabolism. One particularly important function is as the building blocks of proteins, which are linear chains of amino acids. Amino acids are also important in many other biological molecules, such as forming parts of coenzymes, as in S-adenosylmethionine, or as precursors for the biosynthesis of molecules such as heme. Due to this central role in biochemistry, amino acids are very important in nutrition.

The amino acids are commonly used in food technology and industry. For example, monosodium glutamate is a common flavor enhancer that gives foods the taste called umami. Beyond the amino acids that are found in all forms of life, amino acids are also used in industry, with the production of biodegradable plastics, drugs and chiral catalysts being particularly important applications.
Information from Wikipedia

Amino Acids -
Amino acids play central roles both as building blocks of proteins and as intermediates in metabolism. The 20 amino acids that are found within proteins convey a vast array of chemical versatility. The precise amino acid content, and the sequence of those amino acids, of a specific protein, is determined by the sequence of the bases in the gene that encodes that protein. The chemical properties of the amino acids of proteins determine the biological activity of the protein. Proteins not only catalyze all (or most) of the reactions in living cells, they control virtually all cellular process. In addition, proteins contain within their amino acid sequences the necessary information to determine how that protein will fold into a three dimensional structure, and the stability of the resulting structure.

Amino Acids
• Alanine
• Arginine
• Asparagine
• Aspartic acid
• Creatine
• Cysteine
• Glutamic acid
• Glutamine
• Glycine
• Histidine
• Isoleucine
• Leucine
• Lysine
• Methionine
• Phenylalanine
• Proline
• Serine
• Threonine
• Tryptophan
• Tyrosine
• Valine

Sources
• Meat
• Milk
• Cheese
• Whole grains
• Rice
• Corn
• Beans
• Legumes
• Oatmeal
• Peas
• Fish
• Eggs
Information from Ultimate Fowl

Protein and Amino Acid Deficiencies -
The optimal level of balanced protein intake changes according to age; for growing chicks it is 18-23% of the diet; for growing poults and gallinaceous upland game birds, 26-30%; and for growing ducklings and goslings, 20-22%. If the protein and component Amino Acids content of the diet is below these levels, birds tend to grow more slowly. Even when a diet contains the recommended quantities of protein, satisfactory growth also requires sufficient quantities and proper balance of all the essential Amino Acids. Few specific signs are associated with a deficiency of the various Amino Acids, except for a peculiar cup-shaped appearance of the feathers in chickens with arginine deficiency and loss of pigment in some of the wing feathers in bronze turkeys with lysine deficiency. All deficiencies of essential Amino Acids result in retarded growth or reduced egg size or egg production. Some deficiencies or even imbalances of Amino Acids may be related to management problems such as hysteria, “pickouts” and “blowouts,” and Fatty Liver Hemorrhagic Syndrome.
Information from The Merck Veterinary Manual


Chris

 

[ladrholman]

wow.... that is a lot to absorb but lots of great information. interestingly enough I think I lost a hen last fall too the fatty liver issue. The necropsy findings seemed to match what I found online and in books for that. I am going to change my feed source. I am wondering if this protien thing might be from the feed that I have... I would think it should be fine, but I seem to have a lot of issues. I use a lay mash but they tend to waste a lot. They are always throwing it onto the floor looking for what ever.... I am going to try another company who has a pelleted feed. See if they get more of what they need. I will get some game mix too and maybe blend the 2. does this seem like a good plan? I am not quite a year into my chicken experience and it has been a steep learning curve. This site has been great.