Proper feather growth food

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ambe0487

ambe0487

Songster
Jul 6, 2015
953
275
191
Urbandale, IA
Most of my flock is currently in their yearly molt and eggs are a distant memory. I'm looking for suggestions on what to serve my flock during this time to help build the best feathers possible.

From my reading I see that feathers are mostly Keratin and I would think I should increase items high in this item during molt time. What would you suggest as top items? I've seen pumpkin, yogurt, whole grains, peanut butter, corn, animal proteins, and sulfurous items. Does anyone have a preference on theses items?


Currently I serve my flock primarily Purina flock raiser (oyster shell available) but add in some Purina Game Fish chow once a day for a treat for the additional protein boost.
 
ambe0487 said:
Most of my flock is currently in their yearly molt and eggs are a distant memory. I'm looking for suggestions on what to serve my flock during this time to help build the best feathers possible.

From my reading I see that feathers are mostly Keratin and I would think I should increase items high in this item during molt time. What would you suggest as top items? I've seen pumpkin, yogurt, whole grains, peanut butter, corn, animal proteins, and sulfurous items. Does anyone have a preference on theses items?


Currently I serve my flock primarily Purina flock raiser (oyster shell available) but add in some Purina Game Fish chow once a day for a treat for the additional protein boost.
Click to expand...
You're already doing everything you can. Keep up with the higher protein feed and keep low protein treats limited.
 
ambe0487 said:
Most of my flock is currently in their yearly molt and eggs are a distant memory. I'm looking for suggestions on what to serve my flock during this time to help build the best feathers possible.

From my reading I see that feathers are mostly Keratin and I would think I should increase items high in this item during molt time. What would you suggest as top items? I've seen pumpkin, yogurt, whole grains, peanut butter, corn, animal proteins, and sulfurous items. Does anyone have a preference on theses items?


Currently I serve my flock primarily Purina flock raiser (oyster shell available) but add in some Purina Game Fish chow once a day for a treat for the additional protein boost.
Click to expand...
Just a tip........Do not add those fillers to the Birds feed....

Grower Crumble during the molt will help with the feather growth......Then use the Layer again once egg production starts.......



Cheers!
 
chickens really said:
Just a tip........Do not add those fillers to the Birds feed....

Grower Crumble during the molt will help with the feather growth......Then use the Layer again once egg production starts.......



Cheers!
Click to expand...


I would not consider whole grains, yogurt, animal products (presumably meat) or corn to be a "filler". When talking of animal feed, a filler is generally a non-nutritive item added to feed to create bulk or add fiber. Sometimes they're added to lower cost, sometimes to enhance/create a certain consistency or texture. Hulls, pulp, grain by-products, and by-products of milling or processing are common fillers.

Whole grains are a great source of carbohydrates/calories as well as vitamins and minerals, animal products provide essential amino acids, yogurt provides proteins, calcium, fats. To label these foods as "fillers" is just plain wrong. Can feeding too much of them and in the wrong proportion create an unbalanced diet that is detrimental to the flock's health? Yes. But they aren't "fillers" by any means.
 
chickens really said:
Pre-made diets have a Balance.......Anything added to the diet is a filler......Yogurt is no good...Chickens can not process the sugars in Dairy........

Anyways, I was only trying to help......



Cheers!
Click to expand...


I think we agree on the need for balance in a diet and, yes, pre-made feed offers that. I still think filler is the wrong choice of words. While there is no legal or industry accepted definition of "filler", the word has a connotation of meaning non-nutritive or included for a reason other than providing essential nutrition. If I feed my birds commercial layer but also toss them some mealworms and BOSS I'm definitely changing the balance of their diet but I argue that I'm not adding "fillers" in the generally accepted meaning of the word.



Edited by Staff
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Example of how I have been using these supplements: (They always have Purina Flock Raiser available in their feeder)

This is for 13 chickens:


This morning I threw a 6oz yogurt container of cracked corn for additional entertainment on the 5 degree day through out the run and coop.

Mid morning I served another 6oz yogurt container with a mix of pumpkin meat, peanut butter, fish oil, crushed garlic and red peppers

Before Bed they will get another 6oz container of cracked corn.


I will alternate the morning cracked corn with Game fish chow (30% protein). every other day. Other days they don't get a mid day snack
 

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