Protein and egg production

[flyin-lowe]

In the past I had used an "All flock" feed from Rural King that was 18 % protein. I was looking at the layer pellets they have and noticed they are only 16%. I was curious if one is better then the other for egg production. Does the percent of protein have an impact on egg production? I always thought it might but figured if it did the feed that is allegedly for layers would have more protein in it.

 

[DobieLover]

In the past I had used an "All flock" feed from Rural King that was 18 % protein. I was looking at the layer pellets they have and noticed they are only 16%. I was curious if one is better then the other for egg production. Does the percent of protein have an impact on egg production? I always thought it might but figured if it did the feed that is allegedly for layers would have more protein in it.

IMO, the amount of protein in the layer feed is the bare minimum for egg production in commercial practices where the hens are not intended to live long.
I use 18-20% protein with half of it coming from an animal source for overall higher quality feed for my birds.

 

[flyin-lowe]

Just seemed weird to me that the same company would put 18% in their all flock feed and only 16% in the layer feed.

 

[PirateGirl]

16% is pretty standard in chicken layer feeds. All flock is designed to be suitable for poultry other than just chickens, some of which have higher protein needs in general.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As was said, 16% is standard for layer feed. The amount of protein, given the proper balance of amino acids, will affect ovulation an egg size. Breeder rations are usually about 17% with enhanced amounts of the limiting amino acids. The difference between 16 and 20% is huge and I think the higher end is excessive for chickens other than chicks and growing birds.

 

[pepe1]

Just from my own experience i get more eggs when using Poulan Grain 18% egg production than i did when using 16%.

 

[PirateGirl]

Another factor is what else do your chickens eat? A chicken in a run with a sand/dirt floor that is not fed treats/veggies/etc. is almost exclusively eating the feed provided and getting the full percentage of protein.

A chicken fed other things or given access to forage for plants/bugs/seeds/etc. and has a more varied diet may be inadvertently diluting (or even increasing) the amount of protein they get in a day because they are not just eating the feed.

A chicken that is not kept in a climate controlled environment that experiences a wide range of ambient temps in the year may be using their nutrition for a lot more than just egg production.

The same goes for a chicken that is not actively laying, molt, illness, stress, age, etc.

There are a lot of factors that impact the nutrition a bird actually needs and agricultural nutritionists have done their best to come up with a one size fits most feed formula. So we find ourselves with 16% layer feed for backyard flocks. It's not perfect, but it's a great starting point.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Very well said!

 

[tdan]

This!

Another factor is what else do your chickens eat? A chicken in a run with a sand/dirt floor that is not fed treats/veggies/etc. is almost exclusively eating the feed provided and getting the full percentage of protein.

A chicken fed other things or given access to forage for plants/bugs/seeds/etc. and has a more varied diet may be inadvertently diluting (or even increasing) the amount of protein they get in a day because they are not just eating the feed.

A chicken that is not kept in a climate controlled environment that experiences a wide range of ambient temps in the year may be using their nutrition for a lot more than just egg production.

The same goes for a chicken that is not actively laying, molt, illness, stress, age, etc.

There are a lot of factors that impact the nutrition a bird actually needs and agricultural nutritionists have done their best to come up with a one size fits most feed formula. So we find ourselves with 16% layer feed for backyard flocks. It's not perfect, but it's a great starting point.