Is giving 22% meat food to laying hens during the winter okay?
During late December- early January, we had a lot of problems with pecking, with one of our hens being plucked bare on her lower back. We got her an apron and started feeding our laying hens 22% meat bird food instead of their usual 16% layer, in hopes that the plucking was caused by lack of protein from foraging during the winter. About a month later, and we've had no other pecking problems so far! I'm here to ask if this is a sustainable solution until Spring comes, or is it something that we should avoid doing in future Winters. Thank you!
Hi there and welcome to BYC!
The main difference between layer and meat birds is CALCIUM and PROTEIN.. As LONG as you also provide oyster shell or another calcium source on the side free choice for active layers then you should NOT have any problems.
22% protein was actually shown to give the highest hatch rates and many "breeder" rations are made with 22% protein.. which ALSO says to me more nutrients going into the eggs my family is consuming! Show breeders KNOW it gives better quality feather growth.
Eggs, meal worms, BSFL, are all great TREATS. Eggs are 34% protein but 64% FAT (calories/energy content NOT volume).. with half the protein and a good portion of the nutrients being found INSIDE the yolk! A good emergency boost for an otherwise failing bird. All bugs, grubs, etc are also high fat content and would not be a wise choice as long term PROTEIN supplement.
Feather picking is often blamed on lack of protein, I say hogwash.. Feathers despite being made from 90% protein and IMPORTANTLY it's amino acids contain only about 2% digestible protein in their raw form according to the research I've seen. It is more often a behavioral issue cause by boredom, crowding, lighting, etc.
Layer feed with 16% protein is the minimum considered to keep a light bodied bird like Leghorn in laying condition. Dual purpose (and all) birds do better, have better body/feather condition, etc and do best with MORE protein AND amino acids than average "layer" feed.. we aren't raising commercial birds or trying be equal to "big chicken". Most of us keep chickens to do better than them, and THIS is one of those areas that some of us will choose to surpass minimums!
While it's true that chicken NEED some animal source based amino acids which are added into the vegetarian formulas many of us are using.. when we are offering "high protein" treats.. there are lots of plant based proteins as well.. frozen peas frozen into larger chunks of ice is a great cooling summer time snack for example with 20-22% protein.
Noting excess protein is also not desirable.. and would be excreted as extra expensive and smelly waste.. processed though the kidneys in the same manner.. EXCESS protein OR calcium fed long tern could cause health problems including different types of gout, kidney failure, and even sudden death.. though most likely to happen in birds ALSO
genetically predisposed somehow AND fed a nutrient (not calorie) deficient diet.
Needless to say.. I have obsessed about avian nutrition but can never know it all.
Since making the switch away from "layer" to Flock Raiser (20% protein, but ingredients and amino acids matter) with OS on the side.. the difference in my older birds is phenomenal when molt time hits! What used to be severely withdrawn birds now have softer molts, maintain their flock order, act normal, return to lay sooner.. I SWEAR by it! Noting YES I breed my birds and always select for improvement, but the change was seen before that! I don't consider it PERFECT but I consider it a happy medium for my pocket book and ALL my hens, roosters, broody's, chicks, etc. and previously ducks, NOT sufficient for starting game birds. I NEVER change.. and this is why my hens enter molt with more resources already on board.. noting I'm a treat miser and my birds free range about an acre which I cannot control what bugs, worms, grubs they access. We just do our best.
Recommend using a flock raiser, all flock, grower, starter.. etc non medicated with OS free choice on the side.. long term why switch seasonally? Protein and carbs contain the same 4 calories per gram.. Energy comes from only 3 sources.. fat, protein, and carbohydrates including fiber.
Here's a link to tons of feed comparisons, noting some things aren't included in the guaranteed analysis (like niacin content) and calling the company is the best way to get some of those differences..
https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/20524932
