Protein 101: Why Your Chicken Needs It and How to Get It Right 

You may be surprised to know that your chicken can suffer from a protein deficiency just like you. Chickens need amino acids to produce their feathers and grow right, and make their egg shells hard enough.

Just like humans, protein deficiencies can cause serious harm to your chickens—it can affect feather production and make them more susceptible to infections. But with the right chicken feed, your hens can live healthier.

Understanding Protein in Chicken Feed: Why It’s Essential for Growth

Feather Production

When chickens don’t have enough protein, they can resort to feather pecking. This is a habit where they either pick off their feathers or the feathers of another chicken, resulting in serious injuries. Because feathers are made from keratin, a high-fiber protein, protein deficiencies can also affect the quality of a chicken’s feathers. 

Laying Eggs

Hens need high-protein chicken feed to ensure that they can constantly produce eggs. This is because protein is responsible for forming egg whites, and the fat obtained from protein-rich feed contributes to the development of the yolk. Protein also plays a role in synthesizing the calcium needed to form the shells of your chicken eggs. Low protein can also result in smaller egg sizes.

Reproductive Health

Protein is also responsible for hens being healthy enough to produce eggs because it plays a vital role in boosting immunity and determining the reproductive health of the hen. Chickens need high energy and protein balance in their diets to produce optimal eggs at their standard capacity.  

Stunted Growth 

Lack of adequate protein leads to self-destructive behavior in chickens and can make their growth significantly slower. Protein is responsible for tissue building and repair in chickens, which means muscles, bones, and feathers can’t grow without it.

It is the primary source of amino acids, vital for normal bodily functions. So, if you’ve ever wondered why your pedigree chicken isn’t growing right, you might want to check your chicken feed. 

So, How Much Protein Does Your Chicken Really Need?

At different stages of their lives, chickens need different protein levels to sustain their growth, egg production, and even feathers. Ideally, this amount is factored into their feed, and if you’re giving them any added proteins, you need to know what is right for their current stage.

• • Chicks (0-12 weeks): 20-22% protein for rapid growth and development.

• • Growing Chicks (12-20 weeks): 14-16% protein as growth slows.

• • Layers (20+ weeks): 16-18% protein to support egg production.

• • Meat Birds:  20-24% protein from 0-3 weeks and 16-20% protein from 3+ weeks 

• • Breeding Chickens: 18-20% protein for reproductive health.

• • Non-Breeding Cocks: 10-12% protein for maintenance.

While you focus on the purpose of your chickens, you must prioritize their overall health and productivity. Your chicken feed plays a crucial role here. You should track the age of your bird so you know what stage of mash to purchase to avoid deficiencies and support optimal growth and egg production.

What Are The Best Sources of Protein to Add to Your Chicken Feed?

Chickens need amino acids to live healthy, balanced lives. That’s part of why you must select their protein sources with this in mind. Chickens primarily get protein from dehulled soybean meal, with about 40 – 48% protein content.

While soybeans are high in amino acids like lysine, vital for chickens, they are also the first choice for feed producers because they work with corn to provide a balanced meal. But, when soybean is unavailable, what are some other alternatives?

• • Fish Meal: Fish meal has a 60% protein content, providing chickens with lysine and calcium. Because it is easy to digest, it can boost chicken’s health with omega-3 fatty acids. The only downside is that it can be unsustainable in the long run because it’s expensive and hard to find. 

• • Meat and Bone Meal, Blood Meal: While chickens aren’t exactly famous for their cannibalism, their feed sometimes contains animal by-products. Because these products contain 60 – 80% protein, they are also a great source of calcium and phosphorus, essential for bone health and shell production. Animal by-products usually depend on their processing methods to retain quality. 

• • Insect-Based Proteins: Most chicken parents know about the fantastic power of grubs. If you want to give your birds a workout or a treat, you can start with Black Soldier Fly Larvae, rich in environmentally friendly calcium with about 40% protein. Because there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of bugs with protein for chickens, you can also try Dried Mealworms, which have 50-53% protein and offer a popular treat for chickens. Insects are natural food sources for chickens, and they offer essential amino acids and micronutrients that can be used to supplement feed when necessary. Why not use them constantly? Because insects can be expensive, letting your chickens scavenge can lead to unwanted problems like diseases and predator incidents.

• • Grains and Seeds: Seeds like sunflower and pumpkin seeds contain about 16% protein. These seeds provide some protein and are easily accessible. The downside is that they are usually insufficient to independently meet chickens’ protein needs.

• • Legumes and Sprouts: Peas, lentils, and beans can be sprouted to increase the bioavailability of nutrients. They are easy to grow and great for adding supplementary nutrients to your chicken diet.

When deciding on protein sources for your chickens, you need to consider their age, purpose (e.g., laying, broiler), and specific dietary needs. Mixing different protein sources can give them a balanced amino acid profile. For example, combining soybean meal with corn provides a good mix of lysine and methionine.

Signs of Protein Deficiency in Your Chicken and How to Fix It

Your chickens can manifest a protein deficiency in several ways. For starters, their growth could begin to lag in adolescents; layers might have issues with laying eggs, including fewer lays, soft-shelled eggs, and smaller eggs.

Another sign could be poor feathering, especially after they have molted. 

Some chickens may also start feather pecking or showing cannibalism because they lack the essential amino acids needed for healthy feather production. Without protein, their appetites could decrease, slowing growth in maturing birds and causing weight loss. 

The easiest way to avoid/fix a protein deficiency is to get a chicken feed that provides a balanced diet formulated for the specific needs of your chickens, whether they are layers, broilers, or chicks. You’ll need high-quality feed that includes a mix of protein sources like soybean meal, fish meal, or insect-based proteins to ensure a complete amino acid profile.

Additionally, you can supplement with protein-rich ingredients that boost the nutrient content of the chicken feed, especially during periods of high demand. Finally, always remember to maintain good management practices for parasite control and give your chickens a comfortable living environment to help ensure optimal nutrient absorption and reduce stress-related increases in protein requirements.