modified diet during a molt?

[Love Donkeys]

My girls free-range, all SpeckledSussex....They live on Sand Mountain in Alabama....
I feed 18% protein layer crumble, 50# @ $14.75. Scratch feed 8% protein, 50# @ $16.99. Purchased from the local Farmers Cooperative....
They also eat left overs from our meals. I do not change their feed routine when they start to molt. Usually they stop egg production in middle of November and start up again the beginning of January....

 

[Mrs. K]

I question a couple of ideas here.

• molting is hard on a bird. I don't think so, it is a normal act of life, all birds molt. I know they often look like hell, the first time I was sure they were all dying, but pretty soon they look just grand. I am agree with RidgeRunner - how well they molt is more genetic than diet. As in, if they are not on starvation rations, if their basic needs are met, then they will successfully molt just fine. If a bird needs more protein, why wouldn't she just eat more pellets?
• Insects at this time of year have lost most of the protien as they reach adult size.
• A lot of worry about excessive calcium, I find that almost funny as a lot of posts on here are about giving individual birds calcium. Excess calcium is stored in the bones, in the medullary cavity of the bones, and released as needed to form eggs.
• While there is a problem in commercial flocks, where highly confined young chickens are fed feed with calcium, all they do is eat and lay, and the easiest of cures is to let them free range which naturally reduces the amount of calcium. Motion uses muscles, and that uses calcium too.

So, as I tend to hatch all spring and summer in the flock, and my local feed store has chick feed, and seems to have never heard of all flock, I feed a lot of chick feed with oyster on the side.

But really unless you have a very tight confinement, unless your birds do not get enough of any type of feed, I really don't think you need to worry about it that much.

MRs K

 

[C Siena]

Rather newbie here, but I was lurking before we had chicks. We do 20% chick/starter, usually for 4 months But that has been adjusted as we combined flocks. That's another post. We feed 17% layer, offer egg shell and this is our first year for molt. They are looking great, laying a little less but healthy. Instead of buying a bag of higher protein, I am giving a little well cooked beans (not kidney), meat and some fruit/veggies. I don't want to give Only fruits/veggies as that would lessen their protein intake. It's great to see those feathers return that the young rooster removed! Basically, they run to me expecting treats when I am in view. Gotta keep pellets in my pockets, or other food.