Protein in feed

[Freysnes]

Hey there!

I just noticed that the feed our local feedstore sells is only 15% protein. Now reading most of your posts i feel like thats way to low of an amount.
I even looked around online in other stores and considered shipping feed half across the country but the most i could find was about 18%

Is that way to low? Is there anything i can do to supply them with more protein then they would get from the feed?
Confused momma hen over here

 

[Trimurtisan]

Is this for chickens? Is it for juvenile birds or adult birds? In the US a typical layer fed for adult hens is only 16%.

 

[Freysnes]

Is this for chickens? Is it for juvenile birds or adult birds? In the US a typical layer fed for adult hens is only 16%.

Oops! Sorry forgot to clarify that.
Its for 12 week olds

 

[Trimurtisan]

Oops! Sorry forgot to clarify that.
Its for 12 week olds

Are you able to find game bird feed?
I'm not really sure what you could add to increase the protien. These folks might have some suggestions though.

@rjohns39
@Miss Lydia
@casportpony

 

[Miss Lydia]

12 week old chickens? Is the feed your referring to starter/ grower? You could grind up kitten food into their reg feed. My flock of chickens ducks and geese love dry dog food. Salmon and Pea I use it for added protein.

 

[Acre4Me]

Meat. You can directly add chopped/cooked meat. It wouldn’t be much per bird, but the do love meat. Easiest is dry dog or dry cat food (chopped up or moistened). whatever you choose, pay attention to salt levels as Too much is not good for them.

Good luck!

 

[Cryss]

I give cat food as a treat with protein benefits. I don’t chop it or grind it. They can handle pellets feed and cat kibble isn’t even that big.

 

[Eggcessive]

Salmon or tuna are very good to increase protein, and I have a couple of chickens who come to the back door and beg for dry cat food. I would try to find 20% chick feed or an all flock feed if possible. Gamebird starter here is 24% and might be found, but it just depends on how many farms are around.

 

[Acre4Me]

Since you have access to an easy protein source (my assumption) being part of a family with a chicken and lamb/sheep meat business, I’d just go for that, if possible (no fillers, no added salt). Fish is good too, but for some reason my chickens have a preference for terrestrial animal protein, although will eat any fish, just not the first thing they pounce on. Assuming that fish is easy to source in Iceland too. Good luck!

 

[Freysnes]

I feed them a feed called U2 which basically just means "after 7 week feed until they start laying"

And when you mention dry cat food, its the crunchy pellets right? not the ones in the can