Chickens cannot produce Lysine and Methionine amino acids on their own; therefore they must ingest these essential nutrients through food sources. There has been much discussion surrounding what percentage protein intake is ideal; however, several key considerations must be taken into account before making this decision.
Commercially balanced feed designed specifically to your flock’s nutritional requirements will deliver adequate protein levels. Each feed is labeled according to its intended use: chick starter, grower, finisher & layer.
Contents
Chick Starter
Chicks need starter feed – typically 20-24% protein-rich diet of chicken feed distributed via feeder to their chicks for their first six weeks of life – for optimal development. Chicks feed from feeder as they peck at it.
Young chicks require specific nutrients in their feed for proper growth and egg production, with medicated starter feed providing additional protection from intestinal diseases known as coccidiosis.
Other ingredients found in chick starter include grains such as wheat and oats, as well as soybean meal which provides the highest concentration of plant-based proteins. Vitamins and minerals round out nutrition provided in chick starter. Once chicks reach six weeks old they should switch to grower feed which contains less protein (16-18%) but less calcium due to completion of fastest growth stage and beginning egg laying stage – some manufacturers even make combination starter/grower feed that allows you to continue providing your chicks with sustenance through this transitional period!
Grower
Once chicks become juveniles, their protein requirements begin to reduce and they can start eating table scraps, weeds, seeds and insects as food sources. Young chickens can even start foraging on their own with guidance from their mother hen.
Feed with protein levels above 20% should only be fed to meat and game birds; higher protein rations stimulate muscle development while too much overall protein may lead to kidney failure in laying birds.
A great way to determine protein and fat content in feed ingredients is to consult the ingredients listed on their labels or consult the mill where you purchase your ingredients. A handy spreadsheet from Self’s website offers assistance when it comes to custom mixing custom mixes based on nutritional values from labels as well as typical values listed by cooperative extension websites – you can even input costs per pound of each ingredient!
Layer
At the moment of egg production, chickens require special feed formulations in order to stay healthy and encourage egg laying. Complete layer feeds contain high levels of proteins with guaranteed levels of essential amino acids as well as balanced supply of minerals; additionally these products are non-medicated and made using only high quality ingredients.
Once chicks transition to pullets, their nutritional requirements change significantly. Less protein is necessary for their rapid growth; therefore the protein content in grower feed may be decreased to approximately 18 percent in order to support development.
Once your hens reach laying age, it is essential that they switch over to a complete, high protein, and calcium chicken layer ration formulated specifically to be fed freely as part of a free choice system. Layer rations typically come in crumble form (crumble), pellet form or even in mash form for easy consumption. It is best to make this transition gradually over one week to ensure minimal loss in egg production.
Fat & Finish
Digesting proteins breaks them down into amino acids that serve specific roles within the body. While humans produce some of these essential amino acids themselves, others must come from outside sources; for chickens this includes essential amino acids like lysine and methionine that must come from food sources.
Chickens need a diet designed for optimal health and egg production, whether that means making their food yourself or buying one from a commercial provider that meets this need. Though you could produce your own feed from scratch, commercial brands offer greater safety and practicality by meeting nutritional standards targeted towards certain age ranges.
Carbs provide the greatest source of energy to chickens, and can come from grains such as wheat, sorghum, barley, millet, rice or rye. Corn, tiger lily bulbs or black soldier fly grubs also contain protein as well as essential vitamins and minerals that provide energy as well as soluble fiber that aids digestion and stool elimination. Finally, fat provides 4 additional kcal per gram from sources like sunflower seeds or roasted soybeans.
