Protein?

[WhiteLeghorn2]

@Chris09 Is there a specific brand you recommend? Is it layer feed or is it something else? Thanks, I'm still fairly new to chickens.

 

[Chris09]

Yup, Game Bird Layena.
I dislike the cheap Purina Mills products like there regular layena, start and grow and flock raise but they do but out a decent game bird feed that is a spin off of the Mazuri brand that Land-O-Lakes puts out. (Purina Mills and Land-O-Lakes are sister companies) I used this feed for sometime before switched to Mazuri.

Crude Protein not less than 20.0%
Crude Fat not less than 2.5%
Crude Fiber not more than 7.0%
Lysine, not less than 0.9%
Methionine, not less than 0.3%
Calcium (Ca) not less than 2.5%
Calcium (Ca) not more than 3.5%
Phosphorus (P) not less than 0.8%
Salt (NaCl) not less than 0.25%
Salt (NaCl) not more than 0.75%

 

[donrae]

My thinking is kind of along the line of Ridgerunner's post. Laying feed, at 16%, is the commercial standard for the absolute minimum protein to get the majority of production bred birds to lay the most eggs. Protein's expensive, so they do the bare minimum to get the best across the board results with millions of birds. I want a little more than that. I also like to give my birds leftovers, garden scraps, scratch or other grains, things like that to vary the diet. I don't want to worry about my birds having too little protien to be productive, and I'm really not interested in micro-managing my birds' diets. So, I feed a higher percentage feed, I think it's in the 19-20% range. It's a touch more expensive, but I'm okay with that.

 

[WhiteLeghorn2]

@Chris09 . Sorry for all of the questions, but do you happen to know an average price for the game bird feed? Thanks.

 

[Chris09]

@Chris09 . Sorry for all of the questions, but do you happen to know an average price for the game bird feed? Thanks.

Not a problem,
I believe the last time that I got it, it ran like 18 bucks a 50#

 

[RonP]

I'm one of those who offer a 28% protein feed.

I'm not a professional, just enjoying a backyard flock.

My birds eat way too much free low protein treats to offset costs.

They free choice the high protein food, treats, and oyster shells.

Egg production is at expected levels, and flock seems happy and healthy.

Some are now 5+ years old, and still laying 1 or 2 a week.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Thanks @MountainPeeps . These people were feeding adult hens though, so I dunno haha. Just thought I'd research it a little bit. Would a 20% diet be too much? I might want to experiment, but I definitely won't if it is bad for them.

Here is a short primer on chicken feed and feeding chickens. Read it carefully!!!!
http://www.canadianpoultry.ca/chapter_ii.htm

Of all the things contained in a complete chicken ration the protein is the most expensive part. There have been literally tens of thousands scientific experiments performed on hens in regard to which diet produces the optimum hen health and number of eggs for the minimum amount of dollars.

In a pinch a hen may substitute excess proteins for missing carbohydrates but this is an expensive short term solution to a hens' nutritional requirements.

The only time a laying hen can make good use of feed with over 16% protein is during the molt when she is growing a new set of feathers.

That said all proteins, unlike men are not created equal, and the names of different proteins can be confusing. For instance a protein that is called "total digestible protein" is good for say a cow because it is high in callouses fibers like stems, roots and leaves but it is not the best or even an acceptable protein source for a hen.

Hens like humans can suffer from protein poisoning as well as poisoning brought on by too much of other good things. A mature hen that is laying will or should expel any protein in excess of 16-17% in her droppings. This excess protein or Nitrogen is what burns your eyes and that you smell coming from a commercial broiler house on a hot and humid Summer day. But hey, it is your money, spend it on what you wish to spend it on.

 

[RJSorensen]

I hope I can squeeze in a question here. I've just got an order of banty chicks, and I have started them on game bird starter, it is higher that any 'chic' starter, perhaps 28%? I'm not sure, other that it is more than the 20% our local chick starter is listed at. I have long suspected that the percentage numbers were 'set' by the lowest bidder. Saying the percent is the minimum number, and is perhaps controlled by money, not what would be the 'best' feed one could use.

I don't want to use the low bidder for my private collection of birds. I want to see the birds take full advantage of the best I can provide them. Up until I can not afford it. I think the wants and needs of many BYC'ers is perhaps a better feed than they are sending us out of the feed store with. I want more than a good slap on the back and the cheapest feed they dare sell me. Many of the members here are far more advanced in the workings of birds and feed, to really be treated as they sometimes do.

Hobby farmers in general just make the feed store folks roll in the aisle, when you leave. I can't decide if the joke is on the hobby farmers, or the employes of the store. I mean, what kind of job is carrying a sack of feed to your car. There is a market for 'better' feed I believe… So is it ok to use the game bird starter with my chicks.

Thanks BYC'ers,

RJ

 

[Chris09]

@RJSorensen ,

For the longest time I fed a 28% game bird starter to my birds and really never seen a problem with it.
Chicks grow like weeds and filled out nicely.

In fact right now I feed my Reds and Rocks;
Birth to 6 weeks --- starter 30% protein,
6 weeks to laying --- conditioner feed 19% protein,
Laying and breeding birds --- breeder/ breeder mix averages from 20 to 28 percent protein. (The higher protein feed would be feed mostly during colder days and nights of winters, during a hard molt or when I throw a little extra "treats" out to them.)


Now my free range fowl that are American gamefowl and free range year round get fed by season, not by age and there protein max out at 19% and min. at 12% protein.

ETA---
All above feeds are a Game Fowl Feed and contain at least one type of animal protein, Now the Layer Breeder mix also contains a carnivore fish pellet to bring the protein up from 20 to 28 percent protein.

 

[RJSorensen]

Thank you Chris,

It is always helpful for a little guidance when one enters uncharted territory. I feel better about my decision, both for me and my birds. I just love healthy, lively, active birds with those bright eyes. This is the reason I keep them.

Thanks once again,

RJ