Wheat as a source of protein and combination with other grains

[Rizu]

Hi
Today i found a source of getting B catagory wheat at very cheap price. Wheat contain nearly 15% of protein. Apart from wheatci have following option to feed chicken.
Millet
Sorghum
Finger millet
Corn

My question is which among four of above is best to combine with wheat so that protein lavel can reach upto 22%.

 

[Percheron chick]

All the grains you list range from 9-15% protein content. No combination will up that to 22%. You would need to add a high protein source like soy to achieve your goal.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

None. Your highest protein content there is wheat. All others are around 10% and wheat averages closer to 13%.

 

[Shadyfarms]

On another note, does anyone use the spent grains from local breweries for their chickens? The web says the protein content is 24-35% depending on the mix. I have a brewery close by that lets me take as much as I want for free. I give them some everyday and they love it.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The whole downside when considering crude protein content of various grains is that, regardless of percentage, all grains have some limiting amino acids that need to be compensated for. That's why legumes are a good pairing with grain. There will still be low lysine or methionine when making up feeds from vegetative sources.
If @Rizu can obtain some animal protein, perhaps in the form of fish or pork, it wouldn't take much to adequately compensate.

 

[Akrnaf2]

The whole downside when considering crude protein content of various grains is that, regardless of percentage, all grains have some limiting amino acids that need to be compensated for. That's why legumes are a good pairing with grain. There will still be low lysine or methionine when making up feeds from vegetative sources.
If @Rizu can obtain some animal protein, perhaps in the form of fish or pork, it wouldn't take much to adequately compensate.

Exactly!
The percentage of protein is one aspect but the another aspect, like CC said, is the availability of essential amino acids, which in plants they can be achieved only with combination of grains and legumes.
I use Dehulled Soybean meal which have 48% of protein to boost the protein levels in my chick feed.
Reed this
http://www.shemenb2b.co.il/product-and-service/feed-products/dehulled-soybean-meal/

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi.

I agree with other posters.

I also want to note that the color of the yolks you get will be effected by what you feed. Wheat fed hens will produce whiter or lighter yolks than a hen fed yellow corn. Like wise, white corn would have the same effect. Some feeds add in marigold flowers to increase yolk color. Which does have visual appeal, but as far as I know... zero effect on the nutritional value of the egg.

Is your wheat sproutable?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Exactly!
The percentage of protein is one aspect but the another aspect, like CC said, is the availability of essential amino acids, which in plants they can be achieved only with combination of grains and legumes.
I use Dehulled Soybean meal which have 48% of protein to boost the protein levels in my chick feed.
Reed this
http://www.shemenb2b.co.il/product-and-service/feed-products/dehulled-soybean-meal/

I use fishmeal to boost the protein percentage of my 16% organic grower for chicks. Mixing the 60% fishmeal at a ratio of 10:1 gets a crude protein of 20% and the menhaden source fishmeal has adequate levels of all amino acids.

Hi.

I agree with other posters.

I also want to note that the color of the yolks you get will be effected by what you feed. Wheat fed hens will produce whiter or lighter yolks than a hen fed yellow corn. Like wise, white corn would have the same effect. Some feeds add in marigold flowers to increase yolk color. Which does have visual appeal, but as far as I know... zero effect on the nutritional value of the egg.

Is your wheat sproutable?

Good point. I think that in some countries, egg yolk color isn't as important of a factor as it seems to be in the Americas or in Asia. I know that white corn is one of the primary chicken feed ingredients in much of Africa and it results in extremely light, almost white yolks. In many parts of Asia , perhaps because of indigenous free ranging flocks eating more carotenoid rich diets, yolks are quite dark.

 

[Akrnaf2]

We can't find fishmeal here, there is some disgusting product called "feathers meal"
Fishmeal as an animal product, have all the amino acids needed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Feather meal will work, whether it sounds palatable or not.
Commercial egg and broiler farms use feather meal in their formulas.
I am fortunate to belong to a feed co-op that has a wondrous variety of feeds, feedstuffs and seeds. The fishmeal is very stable and a 50# bag will keep a year here in cool, dry conditions.