What does people feed and why? Despite what you you heard about higher proteins, does it help? Neil.... I hope you're reading... would love your input.
I've been doing some research and it seems many of us are over feeding protein. Doesn't really hurt the chicken but it does hurt the wallet. I've been reading that protein is not near as important as amino acid intake. From my research I'm getting a starter of 22% (0-3 weeks), then a grower of 20% (3-6 weeks), then lastly a finisher of 18% (6-8 weeks).
Now, I don't know about you... but that last number 18% for the last two weeks would save me a substantial amount of money. With feed prices soaring the last few months it's only natural to look for ways to help keep the cost low. For instance this time last year I was paying $7.00 / 50 pound bag of layer feed and now it's up to $8.50. In a year it has went up about $1.00 / $3.00 / 100 pounds across the board.
Last year I started the year out with feeding a 24% from start to finish.... this year I dropped that to a 20%. I didn't see any difference in weight gain over the course of 8 weeks, to be honest I actually had better weights on the 20%. Many people don't have the option to change their protein levels and I understand, however those of you that do I think it may be worth investigating.
The protein levels were extremely low for slower growing breeds like the freedom rangers (17.5%) after 3 weeks of age. Saying that a higher energy bird requires a lower protein intake and vise versa for a cornish rock.
For me if averaging 6 pounds of feed in the last two weeks that would be 2800 pounds / 400 birds. Which is about a $40.00 difference.... over the course of a summer.... well it would be a lot. Just curious if anyone as tried different protein intakes and what the results were. I believe the biggest requirement when lowering the protein is to make sure the correct levels of methionine and lysine are still what they need to be. With age and like protein they can be lowered in the same age classes. ex: 0-3 weeks.
I've been doing some research and it seems many of us are over feeding protein. Doesn't really hurt the chicken but it does hurt the wallet. I've been reading that protein is not near as important as amino acid intake. From my research I'm getting a starter of 22% (0-3 weeks), then a grower of 20% (3-6 weeks), then lastly a finisher of 18% (6-8 weeks).
Now, I don't know about you... but that last number 18% for the last two weeks would save me a substantial amount of money. With feed prices soaring the last few months it's only natural to look for ways to help keep the cost low. For instance this time last year I was paying $7.00 / 50 pound bag of layer feed and now it's up to $8.50. In a year it has went up about $1.00 / $3.00 / 100 pounds across the board.
Last year I started the year out with feeding a 24% from start to finish.... this year I dropped that to a 20%. I didn't see any difference in weight gain over the course of 8 weeks, to be honest I actually had better weights on the 20%. Many people don't have the option to change their protein levels and I understand, however those of you that do I think it may be worth investigating.
The protein levels were extremely low for slower growing breeds like the freedom rangers (17.5%) after 3 weeks of age. Saying that a higher energy bird requires a lower protein intake and vise versa for a cornish rock.
For me if averaging 6 pounds of feed in the last two weeks that would be 2800 pounds / 400 birds. Which is about a $40.00 difference.... over the course of a summer.... well it would be a lot. Just curious if anyone as tried different protein intakes and what the results were. I believe the biggest requirement when lowering the protein is to make sure the correct levels of methionine and lysine are still what they need to be. With age and like protein they can be lowered in the same age classes. ex: 0-3 weeks.
