Molting, what to feed

[Kiki]

Don't let the name on a feed bag trick you into thinking it's better/something way different than what it is.

Read the labels.
For example look here and compare the chick starter feed with their feather fixer.
https://www.nutrenaworld.com/product/naturewise-chick-starter-grower-feed#guaranteed-analysis-anchor


Remember...a molting hen isn't laying eggs so pay attention to calcium levels too.

 

[getaclue]

While a molting hen is not laying, the calcium is going into making new feathers. They still require as much, if not more calcium.

 

[Chickassan]

Protein and more protein!
Eggs, meat, mealworms, witnesses load those birds up!

 

[aart]

While a molting hen is not laying, the calcium is going into making new feathers. They still require as much, if not more calcium.

First time I've heard that one.

 

[getaclue]

aart, most focus on protein only, but a lot more resources than just protein are going into making those new feathers.

 

[aart]

aart, most focus on protein only, but a lot more resources than just protein are going into making those new feathers.

I'm sure some calcium is good...but more calcium than when they are laying?

 

[ColoradoChickensOfOurs]

Up the protein a bit, and keep oyster shell on the side. Animal protein is very beneficial at this time too. I like to give a little canned mackerel, and canned cat food during this time.

Our 9 hens are all molting (no eggs for 5 days so far... ) so I bought some black oil sunfolwer seed - just wondering how much we should be adding that to their food. (I have no idea what 20% protein would look like, combining that with their reg. layer feed.) A couple cups a day? More? Less?
TIA

 

[aart]

Our 9 hens are all molting (no eggs for 5 days so far... ) so I bought some black oil sunfolwer seed - just wondering how much we should be adding that to their food. (I have no idea what 20% protein would look like, combining that with their reg. layer feed.) A couple cups a day? More? Less?
TIA

Better to get a 20% protein feed.
BOSS has a good amount of protein but also high in fat and should only be fed as an occasional treat.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

We have 7 chickens. 1 hen, 6 pullers. Our hen is molting for the first time. Should I switch the whole flock to a feather fixer type feed or just stick with something like a 20% protein grower feed with oyster shell on the side?

thanks wise chicken people of the internet! Lol

Stick with what you are doing. "FF" is just higher protein (18%) layer feed - and its lower protein than the typical 20% "Nutrena All Flock/Purina Flook Raiser".
if you really want to get into the weeds, look at Met and Lys.

Met is 0.35, Lys 0.75 in FF
Met is 0.35, Lys 0.80 in AF

Met is 0.55, Lys is 1.1 in FR. (Part of why I say Purina FR is generally superior to Nurena AF)

Feathers are about 90% keratins, and keratins are an odd, hard to digest protein. They contain almost no lysine, and almost no tryptophan (tryp doesn't appear on a feed label, but is readily available in the typical grain-based diet.) Its mostly cystine (9%) , glutamine (8%), proline (12%), and serine (16%), which chickens can largely prodicue on their own.

Cystine is made, btw, fron Methionine when a bird doesn't get enough in its diet. About half the typical Met need in a bird is used for cystine production. There are decent amounts of Methionine (about 1%) and Threonine (4%) in keratins as well. Threonine does not appear on feed labels either (probably should), but is another limiting amino acid like Met, Lys, and Tryp). Threonine is high in meat byproducts like fish meal, corn gluten meal, soy meal, flax seeds, and beans - some mix of which are commonly present in chicken feeds to up protein levels to desired targets)

and yes, I had to look those % up, I don't have them memorized. I did know feathers needed Met and Thre, not Lys or Tryp.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

While a molting hen is not laying, the calcium is going into making new feathers. They still require as much, if not more calcium.

I'm sorry, WHAT????
Calcium content of feathers is measured in parts per million, and is generally under about 0.5% in chicken feathers. Strongly recommend you put a large question mark and a salt shaker next to your source for the information.

here's feather meal for reference - yse, its been hydrolyzed, but hydrolyzation doesn't reduce calcium content.