No eggs, losing feathers? Relax, it's molting time!

[chickenlips1954]

What kind of protein food(s) do you feed your molting hens? A special kind of feed from the feed store? Would wild game feed work? I know it is higher in protein than layer feed.

 

[dancingbear]

Layer crumbles,(or pellets, or mash) are usually 16% protein. (I always use unmedicated feed) Look at the labels on the feed at the feed store. Look for something a little higher. 18% would probably be good. You can always ask at the feed store, and somebody should be able to help you find what you want. I add a little soybean meal to the layer crumbles, about a handful per gallon. I'm not exact about this at all, I just up the protein a bit. It seems to help. It helps to bring a hen into lay, too, when they've stopped for whatever reason.

You can start tossing them a scoop of dry cat food, or dry dog food everyday. If you are lucky enough to have some other readily available protein source handy, like meat scraps, (other than chicken) sunflower seeds, peanuts, dairy products, etc., they love it all. Unsalted please, chickens can get salt poisoning.

You can put milk or whey in a pan and they'll drink it right up, once they figure out that it's food. With new items that they've never had before, sometimes you have to toss it out there several times before they catch on.

 

[hennypennyinmissouri]

im bumping again.