Protein for chickens: where is it and what is it, the best sources of protein and how to give

People often wonder where the protein for chickens is found. This component is present in many products. These include chicken eggs, meat, fish. Sprouted cereals, oats, seeds and nuts are considered sources of vegetable proteins. To achieve the normal development of chickens and ensure their high productivity, it is worth choosing the right balanced diet and using the necessary supplements.

Do chickens need protein?

Protein is considered an important element of the cells of the body of birds. Chickens have a high need for this element during oviposition. It is these substances that are required for the formation of egg protein.

With an insufficient amount of protein components in food or an imbalance of amino acids in the menu, birds stop developing, slowing down their growth. Often there are problems with the formation of eggshells, feathers become hard and brittle, spermatogenesis decreases.

What foods contain protein?

Protein is present in many foods that can be used in the diet of chickens.

Eggs

This is one of the most complete foods that contains protein, a large amount of vitamins and minerals. Eggs are actively used for feeding chicks. Adult hens need this product during laying and molting.

Each farmer has his own egg feed recipe. However, most often they grind it with a knife or grater, add carrots and 1 large spoonful of crackers, semolina or bran to the composition. The composition is thoroughly mixed and given to the birds.

Poultry

Chicken meat includes a lot of protein. The same goes for the turkey. Birds are given this product boiled. In this case, the birds can be given a whole carcass. It is also acceptable to give offal to chickens.

Meat

Chickens can eat beef, pork. They often eat lamb. It is also permissible for birds to give bones with meat or offal. Meat is allowed to be used raw or boiled.

Feathers need meat and bone meal. It is made from the waste of meat processing plants. The composition contains a lot of protein, which contains a large amount of lysine. The product also includes 11% fat, 30% ash components. In addition, the flour contains vitamins A and E.

Chickens are given this product not earlier than 30 days. The volume of this component should not exceed 3%. Adult birds are given 5-7% meat and bone meal as part of the feed.

Also chickens are given meat meal. It is a product that is obtained from internal organs or meat trimmings. It has a higher protein content. The amount of this substance is 56-64%. At the same time, ash components account for 12-14%. The volume of fat in such flour is 18%.

The amount of meat and meat and bone meal in the menu of birds is the same.

Thanks to the strict observance of proportions, it is possible to achieve the full development of layers.

Fish

Fish can be used in any form - boiled, raw, in the form of canned food. This product is a valuable source of protein that birds need during molting. Birds are allowed to give a whole fish. It is used with the head, bones and entrails. Birds love this product.

It is sometimes permissible to introduce fishmeal into the menu of chickens.It is considered one of the most nutritious protein foods. Such flour is made from non-commercial varieties of fish and waste. It contains a lot of easily digestible protein, which includes the optimal amount of valuable amino acids. These primarily include lysine and methionine.

Shellfish

Laying hens need a slow release source of calcium. This is due to the fact that egg shell production occurs at night, when birds do not eat. The shells of mollusks, such as oysters, are considered the most valuable and reliable source of calcium release.

Mealworms

Meal worms are the larvae of a large beetle. They are cylindrical in shape and yellow-brown in color. The length of the worms reach 25-30 millimeters.

You can breed flour worms yourself. To do this, take a box and pour bran, flour, crackers or oatmeal into it.From above it is worth placing a cotton cloth, which should be moistened sometimes. Flour worms are placed in the box. They should be fed with potatoes, cabbage, beets. Birds are fed cotton worms. They fall into it for pupation.

Nuts and seeds

Seeds are considered a valuable source of protein components. An excellent option would be sunflower or pumpkin seeds. Chopped nuts can be used as a treat. Almonds, peanuts are suitable for this. It is permissible to give birds and walnuts. It should be borne in mind that chickens are strictly forbidden to give s alty foods - nuts or seeds.

It is also useful for chickens to give hemp cake. Untreated seeds contain 33% protein, while treated seeds contain 35-38%. Meals contain several times more proteins.

In the manufacture of vegetable oil from sunflower seeds or soybeans, special substances are obtained - phosphatides. They include many nutritional components. The use of phosphatides in the menu increases egg production and disease resistance.

Oats

This product is given to birds raw or cooked. Oats are a natural protein supplement. Chickens love this product. Both whole oats and cereal are good.

Seedlings

Chickens love sprouted grains and legumes. These products contain a large number of valuable protein components. An excellent option for birds is peas, lentils, beans. Growing sprouts is considered an easy and reliable way to provide birds with protein.

Chicken food

Chicks under 8 weeks of age have more protein than laying hens. Compound feed for young animals includes 17-21% protein. At the same time, feed for adult chickens includes 16-17% of this component. Therefore, many poultry farmers during molting and egg laying of chickens add a little composition for chickens to the feed. This helps increase its nutritional value.

Some farmers advise giving cat food to chickens during the molting period, as it contains a large amount of protein components. However, doing so is still not recommended. Cat food is not intended for birds. Better buy some sardines or other canned fish.

In what proportions and when is it better to give protein food?

Adult laying hens need a balanced diet. They should receive 10-15 grams of animal feed and 3-5 grams of vegetable proteins. During the period of molting or active laying, the amount of protein products may be increased.

Besides this, chickens need cereals, herbs and vegetables. Per day they should receive 100-120 grams of grain and 40-80 grams of greens and succulent feed. Of no small importance is the introduction of mineral supplements into the diet. These include shells, chalk and other elements.

Protein products are very important for the full development of birds. Birds experience the maximum need for proteins during molting and active oviposition. With a deficiency of such elements, the development of chickens is disturbed, their feathers become brittle and hard texture.

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