Protein % of feed.

[Akane]

I noticed a big improvement in mine feeding 22% gamebird feed versus 16% layer feed. They grow better feathers and quicker after they molted this time, they lay more and larger eggs, they need less in winter to keep warm, etc... Chicks and young chickens also grow faster. Protein is the most expensive component in feed and so most poultry feeds are designed to provide the minimum protein necessary for egg production in warm months in order to keep costs as low as possible. Adding more than the minimum is only helpful. Having to eat more feed to get more energy is not as efficient for the animal as feeding something that can provide more energy with the same amount. Any livestock owner in the north knows that and will feed more concentrated sources of fat and protein to their animals in winter. I also give both the chickens and horses BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds) in winter. They have more kcals and fat than even corn with more useful nutrition and easier to digest than any grain.

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
Aaaahhhh!!! So, that's what I've been doing wrong!!

Oh, I'm so mad at myself, I thought I was doing something good for them and was wondering why in the heck my production dropped from 14 to 8! They're not molting right now, I've upped their protein to 22%, give them boss and safflower seeds, ugh-what an idiot! They're only getting this 2 times a week instead of every day and I'll see how that goes! I'm so glad the op started this thread.

 

[sommrluv]

Please understand I'm not arguing, but the logic is flawed, and I agree with the most recent poster. If they are eating a less nutritutious (less protein) feed, and need to consume MORE for their needs, they are also consuming more filler they DON'T need, especially with these so called "complete" feeds that appear to have many unneccessary additives, and are mostly corn/soy/bovine meal, etc.

Personally, I don't trust a big box producer to formulate everything my chickens need. They sell feeds. They sell it based on a percentage, and most of the feed producers are owned by human food processors, so you are buying what wasn't fit to sell at market, or too old, got moldy, etc...which is why i'm looking to mixing my own.

My chickens are eating less, which I forgot to mention before, but producing now.

The pumpkins...could be several things...they are mostly water, and this time of year, could they have been off in any way? Was that their only food available to them? I fed my girls squash, but I feed them free choice, and they seemed to rationed them off themselves, and we didn't drop in egg production at all. In fact, we seem to be gaining! Yippee!

 

[sommrluv]

Sorry, I should say, I agree with Akane

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Are you speaking for all of us Northerners now? We're not talking about fattening up cattle. Excessive weight and egg size in layers is detrimental to their health and production. I have 2500 hens and do not want young pullets to put on weight too quickly. There is little market for Jumbo and oversized eggs that can't be packed, not to mention increased mortality due to prolapse.

Currently we are cutting back on protein, methionine, lysine, and feeding times, because of excessive egg weight. Cooler temperatures have increased consumption from .25 to .28 lbs per hen and on 17% protein they were growing too fast and laying increasingly larger eggs. Extra energy should be provided as carbs and fats, not protein, unless you want your layers the size of meat birds and eating you out of house and home.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Protein is not nutrition in itself, there is also the needed carbs, fats, vitamins and minerals that are needed in balance with each other. Higher protein feed is not more nutritious feed. That "filler" (lower protein ingredients) you speak of provides carbs for energy. What unnecessary additives do you speak of? A corn and soy ration is what is providing the protein, carbs, and fats, they are not fillers, they are the feed!

 

[Junkmanme]

Last year about this time, I read somewhere that feeding the chickens some dried hot chile flakes (like you might put on Pizza) would "stimulate" them to lay eggs. I did this and they DID start laying. But, then, of course, it could have been a coincidence because at the same time I did put a timed light in their coop to make for a longer "day".

Presently, I am feeding my chickens a combination of about 50% scratch and 50% layer feed that is 22% protein. I figure that they are probably getting approximately 16% Protein as a result of the combination.

It worked last year.....and this year I have more chickens (who are just about 6 months old) and they are beginning to lay. Our days have been about 45 F and our nights are down to 8 F. They are eating MUCH MORE the last few weeks!

-Junkmanme-

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Egg-xactly. Not knowing what breeds you have, but comparing them to my 4 lb layers, I would expect 16% to be right in the ballpark for increased consumption due to temperatures that cold. By mixing the scratch with the 22% layer ration you can customize the protein level. You can get the egg size to come up quickly by feeding less scratch. If egg size gets too large you can give more scratch, if production falls off you give less scratch.

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Quote:
Sorry but the table has turned.

Your logic/assumptions about livestock feed producers is false. They do not use moldy/rotten ingredients in their feeds, that would be counter to the objective of providing nutritious feeds for livestock. If the feed is bad the livestock won't flourish.


Jim

 

[trilyn]

Quote:
Egg-xactly. Not knowing what breeds you have, but comparing them to my 4 lb layers, I would expect 16% to be right in the ballpark for increased consumption due to temperatures that cold. By mixing the scratch with the 22% layer ration you can customize the protein level. You can get the egg size to come up quickly by feeding less scratch. If egg size gets too large you can give more scratch, if production falls off you give less scratch.

Hmmm, gosh you could almost drive yourself to the brink of insanity with all of this! This is very interesting to me and I will be watching this thread closely, great info on here.