Thoughts and Observations on Protein

[MysteryChicken]

I always feed high protein feed, been very pleased with results, such as meatier birds, happier, healthier birds, large to colossal eggs, better feathering etc.
I feed two different feeds, but currently switched out 20% Purina Flock Raiser to Dumor 20% chick feed since it's cheaper, & actually has animal protein in it. Chickens are omnivores after all.

 

[Sally PB]

I'm trying this stuff:

I'm feeding one 40# bag as part of my ongoing treatment? experiment? with Pip, who recently had a bout of salpingitis ("lash egg").

I'm surprised that this feed only has 0.3% met. The Kalmbach I usually feed is 0.55%.

This stuff is much more expensive: $27/40# versus $21/50#.

 

[Huntmaster]

I'm trying this stuff:
View attachment 3777076
View attachment 3777077
I'm feeding one 40# bag as part of my ongoing treatment? experiment? with Pip, who recently had a bout of salpingitis ("lash egg").

I'm surprised that this feed only has 0.3% met. The Kalmbach I usually feed is 0.55%.

This stuff is much more expensive: $27/40# versus $21/50#.

Have you ever tried Belstra feed they are out of Indiana, I like their turkey gamebird starter. I haven't really looked into their other feeds, but Belstra / Kalmbach / Purina are my backups in that order. I have been using Prince feed out of Wi. for many years now with very good results. I have a local feed store that orders in my Prince feed monthly for me, along with Belstra or Kalmbach if needed Purina I just get from TSC. Just another feed not many know is out there and seeing your from Mi I would think someone nearby distributes it. I try to buy as local as possible and with Kalmbach in Ohio, Belstra in Indiana they make good choices for me.

 

[Sally PB]

I look around at chicken feed whenever I'm in a store that carries it. I've never seen Belstra, but I'll keep an eye out for it.

I won't be ordering any feed for delivery. Getting shipments back here is a pain at best, and a giant headache at worst. I'm limited to what I can buy in person.

 

[Huntmaster]

I look around at chicken feed whenever I'm in a store that carries it. I've never seen Belstra, but I'll keep an eye out for it.

I won't be ordering any feed for delivery. Getting shipments back here is a pain at best, and a giant headache at worst. I'm limited to what I can buy in person.

I don't have it delivered to me I pick up from feed store also, local store just orders it in for me. My feed is always fresh right from mills monthly, but I do buy a lot so they have no problem with my monthly order so that helps.

 

[PennyWars]

Don't know if it applies to yours, but I did read a study about canola/rapeseed oils or meals negatively affecting a significant portion of commercial broilers. I've made a point to avoid anything with it for my birds thus far.

 

[cincyfarmgirl]

My own experience is that it is not a myth that they need light in order to lay eggs. Perhaps 14 hours a day is a good guess. In fact, even though it’s difficult to separate all the variables that influence egg production, I did find that when I extended the winter daylight by an additional three hours, egg production doubled. I set a light on a timer that comes on at 5:30 (to attract them into the chicken house was my objective), but it seems to have resulted in higher egg production. Having said that, I think there’s some wisdom in not pushing the limits of egg production as, after all, they need a bit of a break especially if the weather is very cold we shouldn’t over demand.

Do you mean that you have a timer set to turn the light on at 5:30 PM to attract them into the chicken house? Indeed, even though I don’t try to push production via additional light, I also have a light set to come on depending on what time of year it is to come on at dusk to attract them into the chicken house and then it’s on until I go out and lock everybody up. Which might be an hour later.

Maybe the Brahmas are just resting. I’ll try to be patient and wait for their egg laying return. in the meantime I think I want up the protein. Frankly they don’t really like the pellets. I guess I chose a 16% because I thought it was a compromise so that all the chickens could be eating it. But maybe it makes more sense to feed a sort of a mash hash that someone else suggested and on the side, have the ground up oyster shells, and or ground up Eggshells that they can choose to eat if they desire. That way, the rooster in particular can avoid that extra protein and calcium that might be in Layer pellets and maybe everybody will be healthier and happier. So I’m open to suggestions on the diet.

 

[Chicken_tiger_catt]

I thought 22% was the highest protein rating that I could get in a commercial feed but just now I found: Hudson Feeds 23% Protein Multi Flock Grower Poultry Feed, 50lb. Has anyone used this?

I once gave my birds 30% protein feed. I didn't notice a difference, but maybe that's because they were only on the food for a week, and they have a large free range area.

 

[Bawkbok]

I thought 22% was the highest protein rating that I could get in a commercial feed but just now I found: Hudson Feeds 23% Protein Multi Flock Grower Poultry Feed, 50lb. Has anyone used this?

Knight's feed has a 25% protein base. I don't know if that's too high. How much is too much? Knight's is made in Bushnell FL; i don't know if they ship all over.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I once gave my birds 30% protein feed. I didn't notice a difference, but maybe that's because they were only on the food for a week, and they have a large free range area.

You likely wouldn't. Law of diminishing returns.

In terms of the things most people might measure - frequency of lay, size of egg - the difference between a 16% CP and a 20% CP feed of identical AA profile is only a couple of percent - which for a prime layer means a handful more eggs a year (likely more than 2, less than 10) and about a 1g increase in average egg weight. Things you will never notice w/o careful measuring and good notes. There are some other things (faster, less stressful molt, improved disease resistance, often improved behaviors) which are harder to quantify.

The difference between a 20% CP feed and a 24% CP feed of identical AA profile is usually estimated at a little less than half the improvement above. Going to 30%? les sthan half again. On the other hand, the amount of nitrates (ammonia, primarily) goes up dramatically - the body expelling protein it can't use that day.

At least, that's the case for adult commercial layers.

Effects are more noticed with birds just hatched and growing. Faster growth, larger eventual size, improved feed efficiency, greater disease resistance. But even then, you can reach a point where more protein isn't a net benefit.

and like all dietary changes, it takes a bit before those changes start to express themselves - the older, more "complete" the bird, the longer it takes.