too much sunflower seed? few eggs...

[hensonly]

Hey, all,

Last winter I had a terrible problem with feather picking. After posting on BYC, I increased their protein and the problem stopped, though not before I lost one hen. This year, I started giving them BOSS as soon as the weather turned cold. No problems at all with feather picking or cannabalism. Yippeee! But now here we are in the spring, and my girls love their BOSS - but am I right that they don't need it (except as a treat) now? It's not green grass season yet (they don't free range, but when we mow, we dump a bag of clippings in their run), and I mostly still give them the BOSS to keep them occupied...would I be better off to reduce the BOSS and give them some scratch for treats instead? Or just harden my heart and make them eat their layer crumbles and cut the treats way down? How much is too much??!!

They also aren't laying as much as I would have expected, though they are hatchery birds (sex links), and they are two years old, so maybe they're just slowing down....but their diet may be out of balance, because of too much BOSS...how much is too much? Next winter, how much BOSS per bird should I give?

I can't wait until we have fresh greens/veggies again!!!!

 

[The Chicken People]

I heard treats should make up only 10 percent of their diet?

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
It's good to here that you got the "Feather Picking" under control.
Question for you, What is the protein percentage of the feed you are feeding? Is higher than 16% protein?
I ask these questions because if you are feeding a feed that above 16% protein you would only dilute the protein percentage of your main feed (the layer).
Black Oiled Sunflower Seed (BOSS) is only 16 to 16.5 percent protein (not high at all in protein). Boss is used as a oil source more so than a protein source as the name implies Black Oiled Sunflower Seed.
We can look at it this way if you feed a 18% layer and mix it at the rate of 80% layer to 20% BOSS your feed mix will drop to 17%.
18 (layer feed protein) / 100 = .18
.18 x 80 (amount of feed being used) = 14.4%
16% (BOSS protein) / 100 = .16
.16 x 20 (amount of BOSS being used) = 3.2%
14.4 x 3.2 = 17.6
With that being said I wouldn't give more than a hand full too 10 birds.

* Note -- ( / = divided by)

Chris

 

[PAJerry]

Although it may be a problem feeding too much BOSS, you might want to consider sprouting the seed first. The protein increases to 25% with sprouting - a big boost to their diet and they love the sprouts.

 

[tdgill]

I was feeding BOSS thinking I was upping the protein to my 16% layer feed. And my girls get a good bit of mixed grains scratch (feed store co-op) They also get just about any leftovers we have and lots of worms lately from all this rain. I get mostly eggs everyday from each hen maybe skipping a day here and there but thats all. My hens are only a year old so....

Right now I have BOSS seeds laying on the floor of the coop from my little friend who likes to over feed them. She also dumped a good bit of scratch outside the other day. I was surprised to see that the chickens apparently had their fill of BOSS and scratch, had left some laying on the ground and went off to search for grass and bugs.

Don't mean to take away from your excellent post chris. I enjoy the information you share!

eta: I have been finding lots of chickweed (made sure with research) to throw in my coop on these rainy days. The girls love it and my yolks have gotten a nice deep orange again!

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Yes sprouting BOSS increases the protein amount, but you will loose some of the benefits of feeding Black Oiled Sunflower Seed mainly the oil (the oils is in the shell not in the germ).
When a chicken go's into a molt it's not just protein that helps in the aid of growing back really nice feathers the increase in oils in there feed will help also.

Chris

 

[hensonly]

Chris, thank you for pointing out the protein percentage consideration... I feed Dumor layer crumbles, I think it's 16 %, but have to check to be sure. I read on BYC last year that it was the protein in the BOSS that helped with the feather picking. Last winter I gave them scratch, on the presumption that the carbs would help them stay warm...then read on another BYC post that they needed more protein in winter, not more carbs. I went with the BOSS this winter and had almost no feather picking at all, and the little I did see was very late in the winter, about February, and is barely noticeable. I have in the past couple of weeks cut way back on the BOSS. I do give them some, and a little dry oatmeal, and unsalted peanuts, just for something to peck and dig for. They're in a coop always, so I try to keep them busy. I still get only 4 - 5 eggs from 10 hens. Once in a while we get 6. Last year, when I had 11 hens, I got ten eggs a day and they only slowed down a little in winter. I mean, it's enough eggs for us; I have four dozen in the fridge now, but I want them healthy, and if I'm throwing their diet out of balance I'd like to know...

Anyway, in another few weeks there'll be enough grass to pull some for the girls...their greens are so limited in the winter!

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
Where do you find this information? I feed sprouts, and knew it increases protien but did not know by how much!

I sprout BOSS, hard red wheat and oats.. I have concerns over the birds not getting enough protein. They also get 25 percent protein from an alfalfa meal/fish meal mix fed at 10 or 20% of their diet. (The sprouts make up about 70% and the other 10or 20% comes from fruit and vegetable and just a little corn.)
ON

 

[FrenchToast]

Quote:
Where do you find this information? I feed sprouts, and knew it increases protien but did not know by how much!

I sprout BOSS, hard red wheat and oats.. I have concerns over the birds not getting enough protein. They also get 25 percent protein from an alfalfa meal/fish meal mix fed at 10 or 20% of their diet. (The sprouts make up about 70% and the other 10or 20% comes from fruit and vegetable and just a little corn.)
ON

Can you tell me how you sprout the seeds. I know you have to be careful to not let them sit to long or they will get moldy and that is a big concern.

Thanks

 

[Organics North]

Hi,
I soak grains in a pail of water for a day or so. Then I rinse well and run through a strainer. I take the washed grains and spread them in an old nursery flat and cover loosely. In a day or so they sprout. I stir regularly and use them up with in a few days. I have multiple buckets and trays going so I can have fresh sprouted grains daily.

I use a little AVC in the water, never had mold problems if you do not cover too tight, and stir regularly.

ON