Protein for chicks

[slfreeman]

My 10 week old girls are eating the soft feathers from each other. Is it a sign that they may need more protein? I am presently feeding them 15% protein.

 

[cavemanrich]

Try and increase their protein in diet by giving them some cat food. Cat food is high in protein, and will not harm your chickens. My chickens have been stealing my cat's food for years, and it has not affected their health negatively. My understanding is that cat food should not be given to dogs, but that is another subject.
If chickens overindulge in protein, the side effect is smellier, runnier stools. No big deal in my opinion.
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[slfreeman]

thanks, maybe I am over thinking it

 

[Ebony Rose]

Second the motion on dry cat food. High protein. Excellent amino-acid profile. Drawback is that it's very high in calories and fat. Keep an eye on weight gain in your flock as a fat hen has problems laying; over the long haul, obesity kills hens.
Sardines, packed in water (to reduce calories) or oil (better amino-acid profile and preferred for sick or skinny birds) is another excellent 'treat' option to increase their overall protein intake without killing your wallet.
Limit or eliminate all treats that do not contain protein from their diet, or that do not positively impact their diet (vitamins, minerals, protein, amino-acids).
Eliminate 'scratch', period. Scratch is about as nutritionally balanced for chickens as popcorn would be for humans.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

My 10 week old girls are eating the soft feathers from each other. Is it a sign that they may need more protein? I am presently feeding them 15% protein.

Hi there welcome to BYC!

Many folks claim a lot of thing and repeat it without verifying facts for themselves. Feather despite being made from 90% protein and their amino acids are only about 2% digestible protein. IMO, therefore.. feather consumption and or picking is NOT about protein.. at all.

That being said.. what breed are you birds. I don't personally prefer feed that low but according to the Merck veterinary resource you can review their recommendations which are far lower than most of us on here are going with and touting.
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/poul...t-poultry/nutritional-requirements-of-poultry

If nutrition was of true concern.. I would recommend a turkey or game bird starter mixed into your regular feed over a period of time instead of a feed for another species.

And my personal choice for supplement IF I NEED to give one is Rooster Booster brand Poultry Cell product or Poultry Nutri- Drench, depending on the situation at hand.

You say 15% protein.. Is it a formulated ration and does it have a label for what birds and age is appropriate for them? Are they also getting treats like scratch, do they free range... anything else that is offered regularly? Is it a layer feed with added calcium for layers? How long have they been eating it? Also please add your general location to your profile so we can make the most relevant suggestions at a glance.. for example if you are in the US your resources will different than in the UK.

How many soft feathers are they eating from each other? An occasional one here or there.. or picking the other bird bloody? Sometimes it's sampling the world around them. Other times boredom. Less often, nutritional... This is my take.. but your answers will give more clues as to whether or not you should be concerned.

Sorry. to me.. the devil's in the details always!

 

[Aapomp831]

Just feed your chicks chick starter. If they are picking each other’s feathers they are probably crowded and need more room.

 

[rosemarythyme]

15% is very low for growing chicks. 18-20% is closer to the norm for young birds, and even layers should have at least 16%.