Throughout the lifetime of your chickens, their dietary needs will change. When they’re little and still developing, they need a high protein feed that supports their rapid growth and developing feathers. As development slows and your chicks grow into pullets (chickens that haven’t reached laying age), their protein requirement decreases. Once laying age is reached, the overall protein requirement levels out, with occasional increases during times of molt. When deciding whether to give your laying hens a 16% or 18% layer feed, it often comes down to your own preference.
Higher protein feeds, such as those that are 20% or more tend to be reserved for meat birds (broilers) or game birds. The higher protein level promotes the faster muscle growth that is desired in birds raised to be consumed. For laying birds, like what most backyard chicken keepers raise, there are other reasons and times to seek out a higher protein feed, although the ideal increase would be from 16% to 18%. Too much overall protein in a chicken’s diet could lead to kidney failure, so it’s best to stay within recommended protein levels for your birds.
Recommended Protein Levels for Chickens:
Chicks: 20 – 24%
Pullets (chickens over 8 weeks that haven’t begun laying): 16% – 18%
Laying Hens: 15% – 20%
Mature Hens: 16%
But Let’s Get Back to 16% or 18% Protein Layer Feeds
So how do you decide if you want to feed your flock a layer feed that is 16% protein versus a layer feed that is 18% protein? It really comes down to what you believe is best for your flock. Although our 16% protein feeds are properly formulated for laying poultry, some chicken keepers want a higher protein percentage for colder months, times of molt, egg quality, or convenience. A few reasons you may want to boost protein in your flock’s diet:
- Extra protein during fall and winter may boost egg production in some breeds.
- Molting recovery support to grow warm feathers in preparation for cold weather.
- Metabolic adaption in response to cold weather to help keep birds warm.
- Increased protein to compensate for decreased access to insects and forage due to snow and frozen ground.
How to Achieve Higher Protein for Your Flock
Higher Protein Feeds
We offer multiple feed formats (whole grain mash, pellets and crumbles), multiple stages (starter, grower and layer) and two different protein amounts so that we can be sure to have exactly the type of feed that’s right for your flock at any given time. We offer both 16% and 18% Layer feeds in the following combinations and formats:
- 16% Organic Layer Mash: our flagship feed in that gorgeous whole grain mash format.
- 16% Organic Layer Mash + Corn: whole grain mash format + organic corn for an energy boost (especially great in colder months). *Note: none of our feeds contain corn unless specified in the name.
- 18% Organic Layer Mash: whole grain mash format with a protein boost for when your flock needs a little extra.
- 18% Organic Layer Mash + Corn: whole grain mash format with a protein boost + organic corn for an energy boost (especially great in colder months). *Note: with the exception of this feed, none of our other feeds contain corn.
- 16% Organic Layer Pellets: the same wholesome organic ingredients as our mash, but in a convenient pellet so your flock gets every nutrient in every bite.
- 18% Organic Layer Pellets: our newest offering, we now offer a pellet format with boosted protein and the same wholesome organic ingredients as our 18% mash.
- 16% Organic Layer Crumbles: the same wholesome ingredients as our mash and pellets, but further broken down to smaller pieces. Ideal for smaller breeds with small beaks, or for flocks who prefer a smaller bite size.
Ferment
Although our feeds are formulated to be healthy and balanced as dry feed, fermenting our whole grain mash feeds gives a little extra nutritional kick. Fermenting helps increase the absorption of protein, and increases Vitamins B, C, and K. If using our Organic Layer 18% and Organic Layer with Corn 18% feeds, you may notice more fines than our standard 16% layer feeds. That is due to the extra macronutrients in the higher protein feed. Fermenting is a great way to ensure your flock consumes every last bit of goodness, because the fines are incorporated into the wet feed.
Supplement
Black Soldier Flies are becoming more and more recognized as the power protein source for chickens. Our Grubs are dried Black Soldier Fly larvae that have been sustainably-raised in North America on pre-consumer waste food, and they promise a minimum of 34% protein! During molting times, we recommend supplementing mealtime with a sprinkling of Grubs. Chickens get very excited at the sound of a bag of Grubs being opened; it’ll bring a smile to your face to see them come running. These little buggers are treats, though, so shouldn’t ever exceed more than 10% of your flock’s daily diet.
Time Outside
You know what bugs are rich in? Protein. And you know what your chickens love? Bugs! Let your flock roam about during the day to enjoy a smorgasbord of insects that will help them get a bit more protein in their diet. Plus, pasture raising your birds gives them time to play and explore like they love to do. Just make sure that in addition to foraging your flock is getting a complete diet to cover the bases and allow them to flourish.
