What foods can i give molting chickens?

[Folly's place]

We already talked about FF and it's issues as a diet for molting birds, and why it's maybe not the best choice for them, on page two here. @Kiki knows!
Mary

 

[U_Stormcrow]

We already talked about FF and it's issues as a diet for molting birds, and why it's maybe not the best choice for them, on page two here. @Kiki knows!
Mary

and i agree. as does Aart, who alerted me to its calcium content when i was startinbg my flock

 

[Innovative]

If you are worried about protein, you could give them some chick starter. It has more protein than most other chicken foods.

And if you add water to the chick starter (or to any other chicken food), the chickens seem to really love it!

I use Turkey starter. More protein. With hatchlings I dont lose them much on Turkey starter.

 

[Laura Anne]

We give mealworms, but also protein-rich table scraps. Any kind of meat, cheese, or nuts. They go bonkers for cheese!

 

[Apis mellifera]

Guys please remember to read the nutritional value labels on the bags.
Half the time what the feed is called or other crap advertisement on the bag is just that ...crap to trick you into thinking it's something better than it really is.

A perfect example is Purina Layena "FREE RANGE" layer pellets.

 

[NatJ]

A perfect example is Purina Layena "FREE RANGE" layer pellets.

I had to go look that one up.

Oh, they add some bugs, so eating it is just the same as if your chickens were free ranging (or so they say.) And it has the same 16% protein as the normal Purina layer food, so the bugs aren't actually adding protein, they are just replacing some other protein source.

 

[Folly's place]

Notice how low on the ingredient list those insects actually are! How many per ton of feed? Hah!
Mary

 

[Apis mellifera]

I had to go look that one up.

Oh, they add some bugs, so eating it is just the same as if your chickens were free ranging (or so they say.) And it has the same 16% protein as the normal Purina layer food, so the bugs aren't actually adding protein, they are just replacing some other protein source.

When I contacted Purina and asked how much of the 16% protein was animal, they said its proprietary information. So by the order of ingredients on the bag its probably less than 1%. Maybe a soldier fly landed on the bag.

 

[3KillerBs]

When I contacted Purina and asked how much of the 16% protein was animal, they said its proprietary information. So by the order of ingredients on the bag its probably less than 1%. Maybe a soldier fly landed on the bag.

Or they found a way to use some weevily grain they'd have had to pitch otherwise?

 

[Cecisflock]

Or they found a way to use some weevily grain they'd have had to pitch otherwise?

Mmmmm Yummy!