What animal protein do you prefer to feed your chickens?

[Jlgonzo]

Should be on the tag sewn into bottom of bag...and should be online too.
What's the exact brand and type of feed you are using?

I am using Scratch and Peck brand that is layer feed at 16% and found out their Grower that I used prior to laying is 17%.
You mentioned canned Mackrel before as a protein addition. Do you have to make sure it is packed in water over oil? I have tuna in water and sardines in water. The tuna has no salt added but the sardines have sea salt. I have been giving meal worms daily sprinkled throughout the run and I gave them two boiled eggs ground up shell and all to the 8 of them on a old baking sheet. They seem to be less interested in the feather picking. I am also trying to add a new log or two every few days and a cabbage ball once a week to keep them entertained.

 

[aart]

You mentioned canned Mackrel before as a protein addition. Do you have to make sure it is packed in water over oil? I have tuna in water and sardines in water. The tuna has no salt added but the sardines have sea salt.

I would avoid oil and salt....but may not matter if only giving occasionally.
I actually have never given canned fish, tho I bought some water packed tuna the other day(didn't think about salt will have to look at that)...but I believe @ChickenCanoe does and he knows his stuff and why I forward that recommendation.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I would avoid oil and salt....but may not matter if only giving occasionally.
I actually have never given canned fish, tho I bought some water packed tuna the other day(didn't think about salt will have to look at that)...but I believe @ChickenCanoe does and he knows his stuff and why I forward that recommendation.

I would definitely avoid salt and oil. Excess salt is not good for them. A complete chicken feed has all the fat they need. Plus, some fishes have a fair amount of fat already.
Tuna is fine but the reason I use mackerel is that it is sooo much cheaper than tuna.
I started stocking up on canned mackerel for baiting traps. I didn't want to use anything expensive for that.
I recommend canned mackerel because very few people have access to fish meal. I normally use fishmeal to augment some feed with an animal protein source.
I didn't read this whole thread but what was the purpose of adding more animal protein?
Be careful not to overdo protein. While it is critical, especially essential amino acids, I believe there are many on this site that feed excessive levels of protein. Chickens are not young gamebirds or carnivores. They don't need and can be harmed by excessive protein.
Stick with two of my favorite mantras. 'All things in moderation' and 'too much of a good thing is a bad thing'.
I believe that for a handful of backyard fowl, meat and fish table scraps will be all they would need.

 

[aart]

Tuna is fine but the reason I use mackerel is that it is sooo much cheaper than tuna. I started stocking up on canned mackerel for baiting traps. I didn't want to use anything expensive for that.
I recommend canned mackerel because very few people have access to fish meal.

Ah, good, it was you...thanks for responding to the tag.
They didn't have mackerel at my little store, so got water packed tuna.
Can't remember what it cost, but got one of the cheaper ones.
Didn't notice it was marked low sodium, it has 140mg of sodium in a 2oz serving(half the can)...will give it all to 18 birds. Was going to give it, but now all of a sudden have a dozen dirty eggs....tuna'll keep for a pre-hatching supplement and look for mackerel at a larger store.

 

[GC-Raptor]

but now all of a sudden have a dozen dirty eggs....

So your girls are back on track with Laying?
I remember reading that your girls weren't laying as well as you hoped they would with the supplemental light. GC

 

[aart]

So your girls are back on track with Laying?
I remember reading that your girls weren't laying as well as you hoped they would with the supplemental light. GC

Yes, there's been an explosion in the last 5 days.
Gotta be the increasing natural light-slight as it is,
coupled with long term supplemental lighting,
and maybe the warmer sunnier days.

 

[townchicks]

I have used all of these, dried soldier fly larva, dried mealworms, tuna, canned salmon cat food, yogurt, chopped raw chicken liver (they went berserk shark feeding frenzy for that) BOSS, and currently have a bag of mealworm/tiny shrimp combo that they love. They also help themselves to the lizards in the yard in summer. I also switched from layer to all flock this fall, for molting.