Protein? Gah!

[centrarchid]

To make everyone cringe, like it does me, I used to be called Fabio. Nasty.

 

[Acre4Me]

Now Im not a doctor but isn't it bad for humans to eat too much protein? Too little is obviously damaging because bodies need protein for skin hair etc etc. But too high can also be damaging to kidneys I think? Logically it can also be damaging for chickens to eat to much protein. But how much is too much. And how little is too little?

Chickens and humans are both omnivores, but different needs, so can't make the same comparisons. Different breeds seem to need somewhat different protein levels - based on commentary on BYC, where upping the protein content for one flock or another has helped diffuse certain behavioral issues. We have mostly larger chickens, including some very large Black Jersey Giants. They seem to do better on the higher protein feed that we supply. We had been using layer feed (16%), but we saw some issues with behavior, so we switched to the 20% with oyster shell on the side. They seem to be doing well. They do get some treats and sometimes get to free range for green grass, etc, so with this higher protein, I am less concerned about them not getting what they need when we feed them treats.

 

[Chickassan]

Was it people calling you Fabio or those japanese beetles you pheromoned?

To make everyone cringe, like it does me, I used to be called Fabio. Nasty.

 

[centrarchid]

Was it people calling you Fabio or those japanese beetles you pheromoned?

LOL, unfortunately it was people. Needed a hair cut bad. The beetles are not as embarrassing even when they make you look like Pig Pen from the Peanuts cartoon.

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

How do hens like him look? I have a rooster with a really similar look.

His sisters look like this.

This is a pic I found on Google as I don't have any hens of this breed (they are lemon millefleur sabelpoots by the way, or booted bantams)

 

[rjohns39]

So, should I feed my chickens an All Flock feed as it has higher protein? I am feeding them 16percent layer feed.. and they do not ever free range. Should I change to a higher protein?.. they do not have layer feed with a higher protein percentage... so what should I give them?

How do your birds look and act? What kind of treats do you give them and how much?

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

OK so I have found this all natural turkey grower food which has a higher percentage of protein but still has smaller pellets for my bantams. I'm thinking of getting it and mixing it with the half a bag of 16% chicken grower feed I have left. Does it seem OK? Here are the facts about it:

 

[Shadrach]

So, should I feed my chickens an All Flock feed as it has higher protein? I am feeding them 16percent layer feed.. and they do not ever free range. Should I change to a higher protein?.. they do not have layer feed with a higher protein percentage... so what should I give them?

It depends
If they are all female and layers under say 4 years old, layer pellets at 16% protein don't seem to have killed any yet.
If they are older or not laying then they don't need more than say 1% calcium.
It's an almost impossible task to cater for a mixed age and sex flock with one feed.
Many go for the least risk option which is 18% to 20% protein, 1% to !.5% calcium and provide extra calcium on the side. Imo this is a good option but doesn't cater for the omnivorous bit.
Greens in the run to pick at is a good idea, especially if the run is small and scratched bare.
I would give tuna and/or meat at least twice a week with their commercial feed.
My belief is it's not just about what they eat that keeps them healthy, it's how they eat as well. Free range and feral chickens don't do the two or three meals a day bit. They forage until they have enough. Chickens digestive systems don't rest at night like a humans. It works all the time and keeping the gizzard fed would seem to be important for health.
An empty gizzard still grinds and if there is no food to grind it grinds on nothing. I can't see this being good for them. Feral and free range chickens don't tend to binge feed; they rarely find sufficient in one go to do this. It's a constant drip with a stock up at night before they roost.

 

[Acre4Me]

OK so I have found this all natural turkey grower food which has a higher percentage of protein but still has smaller pellets for my bantams. I'm thinking of getting it and mixing it with the half a bag of 16% chicken grower feed I have left. Does it seem OK? Here are the facts about it:View attachment 1656791 View attachment 1656792

Looks fine. Your protein will only be about 17.5% mixing it with the layer feed.

 

[WhoDatChick]

How do your birds look and act? What kind of treats do you give them and how much?

They look great and seem happy! I will give them food scraps from time to time.. not everyday.. and other days will give them some chicken scratch with bird seeds and a small amount of dry cat food. But I do not necessarily notice those “orange” yolks people mention.. so didn’t know if that was from low protein as they do not free range for bugs. They eat organic pellets.. and layer crumbles... 16percent.. not much of it.. it seems.. I do not think that they are getting so many treats that they don’t have to eat their food.. And I have witnessed a few of them eating feathers once or twice... not picking... just eating the ones off the ground.