Protein?

[tothemoon]

Was wondering what are the foods best for chickens that contain a lot of protein? I feed treats but usually only fruits and vegetables. I know eggs have a lot of protein and so do feathers and I have a couple of gals that are eating their own eggs and plucking feathers out of each other and their roo. Im hoping it is just a lack of protein and not that they are just evil or something! Is it really ok to give cooked eggs to them? I would hate to start all my chickens on an egg eating binge! Thanks for any advice!!

 

[SilkieTime]

Maybe a flock block could help get them started. About how old are they and what are they eating now. How big is there space and how many chickens do you have. What do you do for wormes and bugs. How long have you had themand do you have others. Could be moulting? Tell us more.

 

[ginasmarans]

Cat food is good. Also,if they are laying age,I mix game bird breeder pellets with my layer pellets to bump up the protein.

 

[Tala]

BOSS (black oil sunflower seeds, with shells) and mealworms are a couple of really high protein treats that the birds would kill you to get!!!!!

Mine turn up their noses at cat food, lol!

You could also switch to a higher protein feed, such as game bird feed or I feed Purina Flock Raiser (20% protein) and just supplement oyster shells separately for the laying hens.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I gave mine my turkey carcass. They loved it.

 

[KandJsmama]

Mine stopped eating the feathers when I started giving them BOSS. Sometimes I will scramble some eggs for them too.

 

[tothemoon]

They are not molting. I have them in a pen that is 8 sq ft inside and 8 sq ft outside run. Three are 3 (2 hens and 1 roo) all bantam cochin. I feed them Layena for laying hens. They also get oats, peanuts, lettuce, broccoli, garlic, and celery as treats (something each day but not all of them every day). They are almost 7 months old and have been laying for about 2 months now. I also put a lil bit of oyster shell in the feed. Uummm.....I think that about answers all your question! Thanks again for any help!

 

[Tala]

Quote:
All those treats are really LOW protein treats, which will dilute their overall consumption of protein.

I am of the opinion that Layena is really good food, but it's just the "average minimum required" to promote good laying. If you start adding treats you get further away from that "ideal" really fast!

Also 16 total sq ft for 3 birds seems a tad bit cramped, even for banties. Maybe they're just bored??

 

[pixie74943]

Quote:
All those treats are really LOW protein treats, which will dilute their overall consumption of protein.

I am of the opinion that Layena is really good food, but it's just the "average minimum required" to promote good laying. If you start adding treats you get further away from that "ideal" really fast!

Also 16 total sq ft for 3 birds seems a tad bit cramped, even for banties. Maybe they're just bored??

Second the space comment.. A full grown standard hen should have roughly 14sq feet (4 inside, and 10 out) while banties are smaller I believe they are generally more active? Never owned any myself though.

And when I'm worried about protein, I feed them eggs they love eggs, cooked or raw, bit twisted really

Other than that, they can have meat, plenty of protein and surprisingly, they are omnivores, a little bit of meat (normally just bugs) is essential in their diet.

And if you're worried about space now, you can give them bird toys, easiest thing is hanging food, and if that hanging food happened to be high in protein..

 

[tothemoon]

Just so everyone knows, I started giving the trio a corn cob at night, scrambled eggs in the morning mixed with other treats and also keep a treat bowl of black oil sunflower seeds in the cage all the time now. I have actually been getting eggs from them unharmed! No more feather eating either! Now all I have to do is get the missing feathers to grow back! Thanks for all the advice, it worked!!!