Chicken molting is the process of losing and regrowing feathers, and it happens every year when the days become shorter. Contrary to popular opinion, during molt, hens expressly cease producing eggs and utilize this period to build up their nutrient stores. Even though they are not laying, it is vital that your hens receive a consistently high quality feed at this period.
What nutrient is most helpful to chickens during the molt process?
During molting in chicken, the protein requirement for chickens in their diet has to increase. This is due to the fact that feathers are made up mostly (approximately 85%) of keratin, a fibrous structural protein that is essentially dead and is generated primarily by live cells.
The hen uses more of its protein in growing new feathers and that causes the drop in eggs laying during this period. Pure breed hens molt more slowly than hybrid hens. Occasionally, chickens will lay one egg during the molt, but the majority will rest and lay no eggs.
High protein foods for molting chickens
Protein is the most important ingredient in a chicken’s diet during molt. Feathers contain 80-85 percent protein, but eggshells are mostly calcium. When you observe your chickens losing feathers, switch to a complete meal with 20% protein, probiotics, prebiotics, and important vitamins and minerals.
1. Bugs Meal
During the period of molting, free range feeding becomes essential If you allow your hens to roam freely in your yard, they will come across a variety of tasty goodies, including grasshoppers, pill bugs, earwigs, crickets, worms, and grubs! If your hens do not have access to fresh bugs, you may supplement their diet with freeze-dried bugs and meal worms.
2. Maggots in chicken diet
Black fly larvae are composed of 35% fat and 43% protein. They’re an excellent addition to your poultry diet. According to agricultural experts, the need for human food will rise by 100% over the next 50 years. Fortunately, black fly maggots have been recommended as a substitute for standard chicken feed items including maize, soybeans, and cereal.
Chickens will consume as many maggots as they can. Maggots in chicken diet provide them with a lot of protein, fat, and amino acids. As a result, they are a very healthy supplement to add to your chicken’s diet.
3. Sea kelp
Sea kelp specifically is a fantastic nutrition for particularly your hens all year, not just during molting season. It’s high in protein as well as critical vitamins and minerals, which will aid your chicken’s particularly general health. You can literally add dried kelp supplement to your chicken’s for all intents and purposes.
4. Fish Meal
Fish meal is a good protein source for chickens. It contains a high concentration of important amino acids such as methionine and lysine, as well as an excellent balance of unsaturated fatty acids, minerals (available phosphorus), and vitamins (A, D, and B-complex).
Fish may be fed to backyard hens. They are able to consume both cooked and uncooked fish. Because it is high in protein, it can be highly beneficial for your hens. Avoid fish that has gone bad, as well as fish that has been floured, battered, or fried. They’re all processed, full of chemicals, and far too heavy in fat.
5. Eggs in chicken diet
Eggs are high in protein, and their shells are practically entirely calcium. These two elements are critical to a chicken’s nutrition and general health. To deter egg-eating behaviors in your flock, boil eggs before feeding them to your hens. Scrambled eggs are simple to prepare and feed to your birds. Alternatively, you may hard-boil a number of eggs, let them cool, smash the shells, and feed the egg and shell chunks to your hens.
Source:PoultryABC.com
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