Dobielover,
You are correct that I needed sources, unfortunately I don't have a computer at the moment, only a phone. When I try to leave the page to get my source from any other window it reloads the page and I loose my entire typed message. I have tried the "save draft" button, but as far as I can tell that does nothing.I have typed it up 3 times now only to loose it again. In the process though I decided I should probably stop blowing this poor persons thread up with an unintentionally highly debated topic only loosely related to his problem. The main point of everything is was trying to say was ironically exactly what you have been doing anyway. Also saying that you should statistically have had egg binding is not accurate, since I gave no statistic for rate, and you are not giving ONLY the 20% feed.
1. Don't feed ONLY straight 20% protien feed for long times, even the companies that make it advise against this. If you are going to feed it to them at all make sure you give extra calcium to help counter, and ideally at least free range. Both of these are advised by the companies that make them, and what they are promarily designed for.
2. "Snacks" and treats are OK and even beneficial in 30% or less of their total food if they are healthy things like greens, bugs, beans and not grains and fruit.
3. Commercial feed actually is not made of good quality ingredients and can cause damage long term if that's all they get.
4. While chickens are like toddlers and eat what tastes good first, if given only high variety nutritious snacks and free range their body will self regulate and help ensure a complete nutrition. An important part to this is to remember that when they eat things like bugs or beans (or even a junco??!) They arent actually getting 100% protien, most of those are at most 30%, with added calcium and fat too which both help deter ketoacidosis. Also free ranging hens actually eat more greens (which are surprisingly high in calcium) than protein sources.
5. If you give high nutrition snacks (inculuding a better protein source like beans, bugs, or bone in fish) and free range in addition to Commercial feed you will probably find your chickens lay and live longer. (Which Dobielover showed)
I am going to see if I can type up a more complete essay on the sources, methods, and why's of all of this (including the egg binding). I will have to type it in a different place then copy it over and start in a different thread. If i can get it I will edit this thread and post the link. It might take me a few days though.
My hen's foot is bleeding! HELP!
Chicken with raw skin from foot infection.
Chicken with raw skin from foot infection.
BYC's 52-week Photography Challenge. Week 5: (Feb 2 - Feb 8, 2026) Theme: Nature
BYC's 52-week Photography Challenge. Week 4: (Jan 26 - Feb 1, 2026). Theme: Books!
Wind chill doesn’t count, right?
