Molting and non molting

[SheilaCondit]

I am a new chicken owner. I just got 10 chickens 2 days ago, about 5 golden comets are molting and the other 5 mostly marans are not molting - do I give all the chicken the higher protein feed? I don't want to stress them anymore than they already are due to getting a new home.

Thank you

 

[TattooedChicks]

I feed all of mine a higher protein percentage anyways for feather health and general well being. Some extra for the Marans should be fine for awhile, though I wouldn't switch them to all new rations at once.

 

[rjohns39]

I am a new chicken owner. I just got 10 chickens 2 days ago, about 5 golden comets are molting and the other 5 mostly marans are not molting - do I give all the chicken the higher protein feed? I don't want to stress them anymore than they already are due to getting a new home.

Thank you

Hi and welcome to BYC I would probably move them to a grower @18% or so and make sure you have free choice grit and oyster shell. Alternatively, you can amp up available protein by adding things such as: Beef Liver, Cheap Canned Salmon, Tuna, Boiled eggs, etc. Make sure fish products don't exceed 5% of total diet. Again, glad you joined our happy flock

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

I feed my whole flock 20% protein flock raiser, year round. It has about 1% calcium so I provide oyster shell on the side free choice for the ladies who are laying.

So cool that you are providing a little extra for your molting ladies! Many do not know or care that feathers are made of 90% protein and the amino acids that make it up. Many also don't know that extra calcium as in "layer" feed (usually 4%) can (doesn't mean will) cause gout or kidney failure if fed long term to birds not in lay like roosters, molting hens, or growing juveniles.

Personally, 16% is the bare minimum required to support a laying hen... not the best possible support, especially for dual purpose breeds like Marans or Barred Rock... Good link with 1 misprint in one of the tables..says 5-17% should say 15-17%...
http://ucanr.edu/sites/poultry/files/186894.pdf

In reality... "higher" protein feed would verge between 28 and 35% as in game bird feed. That wouldn't be good either because too high of protein can also cause a different type of gout and same end result. It could also result in fat birds.

I consider 20% a happy medium... for my mixed age and gender flock. It also gives room to budge if I want to feed out treats like corn, lettuce, melon or other low protein snacks. Which I'm a tight wad so I don't, but you get the point. Plus breeders and people who show feed higher protein diets because it gives them better looking birds and hatch-ability. To me that says better overall nutrient in the egg if the chicks are more viable at hatch...

100% your birds will not be harmed and may actually even do better!

Everything is a personal choice though. And what's right for me may not work for you. So use the information you have and do your best or what makes sense to you until you learn something different. And ALWAYS get a second opinion on anything a feed store employee tell you. Despite their well meaning intentions they are often misinformed with little to no animal experience of their own. Owners will *usually* have a little more knowledge.

Your new flock sounds lovely!

 

[Kiki]

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[3riverschick]

Hi ,
the chickens that are molting will do great on Nutrena Feather Fixer crumble feed. it's excellent for helping the birds through the molt and bringing in beautiful new feathers. it can be fed to both sexes molting or not, older than 16 weeks .so if you've got some that are molting and some that aren't and they're all over 16 weeks feed them all Nutrena Feather Fixer
it was recommended to me by another BYC Lister and I was absolutely amazed at the beautiful feathers my light Sussex grew back in!! great stuff ,it's made by Cargill . you can get it at Tractor Supply or your feed store .
Best,
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi ,
the chickens that are molting will do great on Nutrena Feather Fixer crumble feed. it's excellent for helping the birds through the molt and bringing in beautiful new feathers. it can be fed to both sexes molting or not, older than 16 weeks .so if you've got some that are molting and some that aren't and they're all over 16 weeks feed them all Nutrena Feather Fixer
it was recommended to me by another BYC Lister and I was absolutely amazed at the beautiful feathers my light Sussex grew back in!! great stuff ,it's made by Cargill . you can get it at Tractor Supply or your feed store .
Best,
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania

Feather fixer has a little more protein (18% I think) and some added amino acids. It used to contain sulfur (to combat mites) as well but they have since removed removed that and it's claim.

I agree people have nice feathers grow back in (from other reviewers) but I wonder if they would achieve that just by adding some protein with the essential amino acids.

And since you say for birds over 16 weeks, can I presume that it still has 4% ish calcium?

 

[3riverschick]

3.25-3.75 calcium
Best,
Karen