Switching to gamebird feed during molt?

[gritsar]

My whole flock, with the exception of one or two hens, is in molt. Some look lots worse than others.
Should I switch everybody to gamebird feed while they are molting and continue to offer oyster shell on the side or just leave them on layer feed?

 

[jhm47]

It makes very little difference. The extra calcium won't hurt them, since they likely have been robbing their systems of calcium to make eggshells for awhile. The important thing is that they get a nice rest and rejuvenate their systems.

 

[Judy]

My layer is only 15% protein (not a lot of choices around here) so I supplement their protein anyway. Some layer is 20% protein. I might not change my hens' feed for a molt if they were on 20%, but I'd up their protein even more than I am doing now, with them on the 15%.

Around here even the game bird feed is only 18% or 19%. Guess it depends on what you can buy.

 

[gritsar]

The game bird feed I can get is really high protein. I'm thinking 23%, but it could be even higher.
Layer feed is 16%.

 

[FlashPointFarm]

I do that actually. I don't switch completely from layer ration to game bird feed, but I do supplement them with it. I also use Soybean meal. I give them a scoop in the morning, enough to get them all a little, but they only get what they clean up in 5 minutes, first thing in the morning.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Then I'd either switch or supplement with it, probably depending how much layer I had.

I'm going to check another feed store when I'm there next to see how high protein their game bird feed is. Maybe I'll use it for scratch or something!

 

[gritsar]

Thanks y'all.

 

[JessHall]

You can give them a scoop of dry cat food every other day until the molt is over. (Not dog food). Cat food has the amino acids chickens need during this time.

 

[DiVon80]

Quote:
Why add soy bean meal? Thats some thing I want to get a way from soy. Actually I feed a game bird food by purina. There is starter 30%, Flight conditioner, then the layer. If the birds are molting i would drop them to the flight cond. Good for feather growth. Purina has this all on there web sight. I use gamebird because the poultry food is all soy protein. The game bird also has fish meal and lots of other benifical stuff. I just do not want all the soy in my eggs. I also give a mix of grains and seeds. One other thing flax seed. Makes some really good eggs. Keep in mind you will be eating what you feed in directly thru the eggs, soooo! Only the best will do.