Protein help please!

[Ladies in Red]

Hello
I'm a newbie hen keeper with 5 rescued battery hens adopted in September last year so still finding my feet I know a lot about nutrition (for humans) so I understand the concept and I've read loads online about feeding but I have some specific questions. I'm probably over-thinking it but I'm trying to do the right thing. My orange girls are on layers feed, which (although I don't have the bag, and bought a different one this time) has 12-15% protein. They started moulting after a real cold snap (well cold for Scotland, a few degrees below freezing), bad timing I assume because they are adjusting and I noticed the shabbiest looking one was a bit wobbly on her legs so wanted to ensure more protein. I've been giving them eggs and mealworms but can't find out anywhere how much is appropriate and doing the sums (which I can do) doesn't help as I don't know the targets! Advice is either too specific or vague. I cut down on scratch but then it was so cold I still wanted them to have some scratch when it's below freezing as I read it helps keep them warm. I don't give them other snacks (they seem disinterested in greens mostly). They are semi-free range, 3 or 4 days a week they have the range of the garden, which isn't huge but they forage all day, the rest of the time they have about 30m square of a bark covered area in which they forage.
So can someone help please - between eggs (I feed 2 eggs to 5 chooks and they eat it in a flash) a couple of times a week and dried mealworms (about 1/2 cup between 5) daily and scratch (about 2/3 cup one hour before bedtime) when it's cold - can someone give me specific amounts of what is appropriate on a daily basis. It's got cold again so I've fed them about 1/3 cup dried mealworms and 1/3 cup corn before bed. I also gave them 2 eggs yesterday. I noticed diarrhea yesterday (normal colour just a bit loose) and I know that could be too much protein.
Thanks for any help - I need specific guidelines until I'm more experienced! So how much egg and/or mealworms daily when they are moulting, and when they are not, and how much scratch? They are currently laying 2-3 eggs a day (I feed them crushed shells, oyster shell and grit ad lib - they don't seem to eat the oyster and grit but they do eat the egg shell). Or even knowing how many grams of protein is enough and I can work it out. They are bog-standard UK battery - Rhode Island Red? Note they are still fully feathered just losing feathers and I can see feather shafts - not a hard moult.
Thank you

 

[lissalischicks]

I have just had this same problem. I was told wobbly legs is not a good sign. My girl was going through a bad molt and we started noticing watery diarrhea. What was recommended was higher protein feed. If you can buy a higher protein contain feed it would be better. I got grower feed that has 20% protein. I mixed it with a bit of water. I also gave my girl with the wobbly legs NutriDrench. I still supplemented with eggs, mealworms and tuna. After a few days she is luckily doing better but is still very thin but getting better so I hope it works out for you and hopefully someone else can chime in if they have better ideas

This was the original thread that I just summarized:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-chicken-is-skin-and-bones.1214254/

 

[Hamiam]

I use flock raiser 20%. Just have the oyster shell & egg shells available all the time. The layers will self regulate. And the chickens that aren't currently laying, don't need the extra calcium they put in Layer feed. I think your doing good with the high protein snacks & giving the scratch before bed. Of course the feeder should have food in it all the time. Because I take the left over food out of the coop at night, if there is only a small amount left, I pour some water on it. The chickens love it. The wet food they don't eat, I discard. Welcome to BYC!

 

[Mitsos Lamprogiorgos]

yoghurt and butter = protein, calcium, fats

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Give your hens an animal protein based food. Animal protein and animal protein only is appropriate. Soybean meal is ok for part of their diet but it is not a complete chicken ration protein wise. High quality caned dog food as long as it has meat, meat meal, bone meal, blood meal or tankage listed as one of the ingredients is great as is a good quality kibble style dog or cat food. Shun any feed that has poultry byproducts because it is mostly feathers.

 

[Percheron chick]

I hope your layer feed isn't 12%. 15% is pretty much bare bones with no low protein snacks.
Average light bodied laying hen requires 17g of protein a day. Bump that up to 20g for molting. One egg has 6g of protein. Meal worms are 50% protein and scratch grains are around 8%. Figure out how much of each you feed.
Average hen eats 110g of feed a day so that's about 22g total.

One of the best and cheapest high protein snacks for molting chickens is a can of mackerel. Your girls, not used to snacks, might be too suspicious and pass on it. You can give them fish bones and skin, meat scraps, shellfish, chicken carcass...

 

[Ladies in Red]

I have just had this same problem. I was told wobbly legs is not a good sign. My girl was going through a bad molt and we started noticing watery diarrhea. What was recommended was higher protein feed. If you can buy a higher protein contain feed it would be better. I got grower feed that has 20% protein. I mixed it with a bit of water. I also gave my girl with the wobbly legs NutriDrench. I still supplemented with eggs, mealworms and tuna. After a few days she is luckily doing better but is still very thin but getting better so I hope it works out for you and hopefully someone else can chime in if they have better ideas

This was the original thread that I just summarized:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/help-chicken-is-skin-and-bones.1214254/

Thanks @lissalischicks, I read your thread and see she is doing better. Mine don't seem wobbly anymore, and my new feed is 16% so that's hopefully better and I shall supplement when I've worked out the proportions which someone has mentioned below. Thank you, and hope your girl keeps recovering

 

[Ladies in Red]

I hope your layer feed isn't 12%. 15% is pretty much bare bones with no low protein snacks.
Average light bodied laying hen requires 17g of protein a day. Bump that up to 20g for molting. One egg has 6g of protein. Meal worms are 50% protein and scratch grains are around 8%. Figure out how much of each you feed.
Average hen eats 110g of feed a day so that's about 22g total.

One of the best and cheapest high protein snacks for molting chickens is a can of mackerel. Your girls, not used to snacks, might be too suspicious and pass on it. You can give them fish bones and skin, meat scraps, shellfish, chicken carcass...

Thank you, I will work it out from that. My new feed is 16% - I'll transition them over and work out the ratios from that. How much protein is too much - there is a bit more diarrhea today but no messy vents, and it's just a bit sloppy not foul coloured...Thank you!

 

[Ladies in Red]

I use flock raiser 20%. Just have the oyster shell & egg shells available all the time. The layers will self regulate. And the chickens that aren't currently laying, don't need the extra calcium they put in Layer feed. I think your doing good with the high protein snacks & giving the scratch before bed. Of course the feeder should have food in it all the time. Because I take the left over food out of the coop at night, if there is only a small amount left, I pour some water on it. The chickens love it. The wet food they don't eat, I discard. Welcome to BYC!

Oh so much to learn - I have covered feeders so the food doesn't get wet so I just top it up and clean it out completely each month - should I be binning uneaten food?

 

[chickens really]

Hello..The simplest thing is to keep them on a Grower feed and have a separate bowl for oyster shell. No need for scratch to keep them warm, it's a myth. Regular feed and fresh water keeps them healthy and warm. Dry Cat food for added protein during a molt is great.
Best wishes...