Protein Sources for Chickens

Protein is an important part of a chicken’s diet because it provides the building blocks for skin, muscles, and bones plus it helps the body fight off diseases. As homestead chicken raisers, we should be aware of the different protein sources we have available to offer our flocks. Each source has its benefits and aspects that you should be aware of so that you don’t accidentally damage the health of your flock. Let’s take a look at the different protein sources for chickens and evaluate how we should use them to better the health of our flocks!

For more information on how important protein is for your flock, make sure you read Balancing Protein in a Flock’s Diet. This article covers all the different times when protein needs change in the homestead flock.

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Disclaimer: I am not a poultry nutritionist or avian vet. All the information in this post I learned from personal experience or have researched.

Plant-Based Protein

Plant-based protein is the protein that can be found in plants. Protein is the amino acids that can be found in some plants. Some plants contain a good bit of protein while other plants contain almost no protein. Which means certain plants have a better amino acid profile than other plants. Plants that are high in protein are typically your grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, and peas. Let’s see how plant-based protein can affect our chickens!

Benefits of Plant-Based Protein Sources

Well Rounded- Plants not only contain protein, but they also contain many other essential nutrients and vitamins. Vitamins such as A, C, and E are abundant in plant-based protein sources. Fiber is also an important nutrient that is found in plant proteins. Fiber will help a chicken’s digestive tract stay healthy. Many plants are considered ‘superfoods’ because of the healthy phytochemicals they contain.

Slow Digestion- Plant-based proteins are often high in fat and carbs. The presence of fat means that the digestion time will be slowed, allowing more nutrients to be absorbed.

Easier to Incorporate– Plant-based proteins tend to be easier to mix into chicken feed to increase the feed’s protein content. Certain seeds, nuts, and grains are high in protein and can easily be mixed into feed in certain amounts to help increase the overall protein content of the feed.

Can be Sprouted- Many plant-based sources of protein can be sprouted to further increase their nutritional value. Lentils, seeds, and some grains are commonly sprouted for chickens. Sprouting a seed or grain causes more nutrients to be available for digestion and it increases the protein content of the seed or grain.

Alkaline– Plants are alkaline. This is good because a chicken’s body tries to stay slightly alkaline to promote the growth of good bacteria and inhibit the growth of bad bacteria.

Cautions with Plant-Based Protein Sources

High in Fats & Carbs- Like I mentioned earlier, plant based protein sources tend to be high in fat and carbs. This can pose a problem when you forget to take into account the increase in fats and carbs as well as protein. If you use a plant based protein to increase the protein level in your flock’s feed, remember that you are also increasing the fats and carbs in the feed.

Not Complete Proteins- Most plant-based protein sources are incomplete protein sources. Which means they are lacking in one or more essential amino acids. That means you cannot rely solely on one plant-based protein source to provide all the protein a chicken needs. Combinations of plant-based protein sources must be used in order for all the essential amino acids to be supplied in large enough amounts.

Digestion Inhibitors- Plant-based protein sources often come with digestive inhibitors. The seeds, nuts, and grains that are often high in protein are also coated in protective coatings that are hard to digest. These are often called anti-nutrients since they inhibit the digestion of nutrients from that food source.

Decreased Nutrition- In order to compensate for the anti-nutritional factors of plant-based protein sources, manufacturers have to process the plant-based protein source to make it more digestible. This usually means heating it up at a high temperature, which decreases the nutritional value.

Plant-Based Protein Sources

Peas, Beans, & Grains: (amount = protein content)

• Chickpeas (1 c. = 14 g)- are an incomplete protein that are high in fat and contain anti-nutritional factors; can be up 10-15% of a chicken’s diet
• Soybeans (1 c. = 18 g)- have an almost complete amino acid profile and compliment corn amino acids; contain anti-nutritional factors that can be destroyed by high heat
• Green Peas (1 c. = 8 g)- are highly digestible and have a great amino acid profile; have minimal anti-nutritional factors and can be up to 40% of a chicken’s diet
• Lentils (1 c. = 18 g)- have minimal anti-nutritional factors; sprouting reduces anti-nutritional factors and increases the protein
• Amaranth (1 c. = 9 g)- has an excellent amino acid profile; high in fat and anti-nutritional factors
• Oats (1 c. = 7 g)- high in fiber which can be hard to digest; contain anti-nutritional factors called beta-glucans
• Quinoa (1 c. = 8 g)- considered a complete protein; anti-nutritional coating can be washed off; their bitter taste is less palatable for chickens
• Buckwheat (100 g = 13 g)- have a nearly complete amino acid profile; high in anti-nutritional factors
• Wheat (100 g = 12 g)- good amino acid profile and are high in energy; contain starches which can inhibit digestion

Seeds & Other: (amount = protein content)

• Hemp Seeds (1/4 c. = 13 g)- complete amino acid profile
• Sunflower Seeds (1/4 c. = 7 g)- high in fat and should be no more than 1/3 of the chicken’s diet
• Pumpkin Seeds (1/2 c. = 6 g)- a good source of nutrition; lower in fat than other seeds
• Flax Seeds (3 T. = 6 g)- provides a good source of omega-3 fatty acids but should not be used over long periods of time due to their fat content
• Chia Seeds (3 T. = 6 g)- low in fat and excellent source of nutrients
• Peanuts (w/o salt) (1 c. = 38 g)- contain trypsin which can be harmful for chickens; roasted peanuts are better, but still very high in fat
• Broccoli (100 g = 4 g)- good source of nutrition and calcium; is a cruciferous vegetable

Animal-Based Protein

Animal-based protein is the protein that is found in foods that have been derived from animal sources. For the purpose of this post I am going to call them meat-based proteins because that sounds better. All meat-based proteins contain essential amino acids and are typically higher in protein than any plant-based source. Let’s see how meat-based proteins can affect our flocks!

Benefits of Meat-Based Protein Sources

Loaded with Protein- Plant-based proteins just can’t compete with meat-based proteins as far as protein quality and content goes! Meat-based proteins are high in protein and lower in fat and carbs. This means that more of the energy in a meat-based protein sources comes from protein than from fat.

Complete Proteins- Meat-based protein sources are complete proteins. Because meat-based proteins come from animals, and animals need all the essential amino acids, it makes since that there meat and products would contain all the essential amino acids. That means you could give your flock one meat-based protein source and they would be receiving all the essential amino acids that they need.

Contains Essential Nutrients- Meat-based protein sources contain other essential nutrients that are not provided by plant-based protein sources. Vitamins B12, zinc, EPA omegas and DHA omegas are all found in animal-based protein sources. Also, the heme-iron found in meat is more easily digested and readily used by the body than the iron found in many plant sources.

Eat Less to Gain More- Because meat-based protein sources are so high in protein, chickens have to eat less of meat-based protein in order to get the right amount of protein. That means that your flock can eat less of a high protein, nutritionally balanced feed but still produce the same amount of eggs, stay healthy, or grow at the same rate.

Produces Internal Heat/Energy- Unlike fat, protein produces heat, or energy, when it is digested. This applies to any protein, both animal and plant based. The production of internal heat can be helpful when a chicken is living in conditions where the external temperature is cold. That extra heat/energy that is produced by the digestion of protein can help a chicken stay warm.

Cautions with Meat-Based Protein Sources

Potential Disease– It’s true, feeding animals other animals can compound the risk of disease. However, you can mostly eliminate that risk by feeding your flock meat from good sources. By feeding your flock meat that comes from organically raised, all natural animals, you are lowering the risk of introducing disease to your flock.

Can’t be Mixed- Meat-based protein sources don’t easily mix into chicken feed. They sift through to the bottom, clump up at the top, increase moisture, or have the risk of going bad. Bone meals and fish meals are sometimes used since they are easier to incorporate. However, those meals are often hard for poultry to digest and can cause disease because they are made from unreliable sources. That means that most meat-based proteins will have to be used as a supplement that is offered outside of the usual feed.

Digestion Inhibitors- Some sources of meat-based protein are harder for a chicken to digest than others. Skin, bone, scales, and feathers are harder for a chicken to digest than muscle. If the protein source is easy for a chicken to digest, it’s body will be able to utilize the protein better.

Acidic- Because of their amino acid profiles, meat-based protein sources tend to be acidic. That means that when they enter a chicken’s body, the body will begin to covert that acidic meat into a more alkaline state. It does that by using alkaline sources from within the body, usually calcium or alkaline plants if they are present at the same time. So, when you feed your flock meat-based proteins, make sure they have a ready source of alkaline foods, like free-choice calcium supplements or leafy greens.

Decreased Nutrition- Meat-based proteins that are heated up to a high temperature loose their nutritional value.

Animal-Based Protein Sources: (amount = protein content)

• Cooked Chicken (1 c. = 38 g)- low in fat and carbs
• Eggs (1 egg = 6 g)- provide many vitamins and minerals
• Ground Beef (4 oz. = 16 g)- high in fat, great source of vitamins and minerals
• Pork (100 g = 27 g)- high in fat
• Cooked Fish (3 oz. = 16-26 g)- low in fat
• Canned Sardines (1 can = 23 g)- excellent source of protein
• Lamb (100 g = 25 g)- good source of potassium
• Venison (4 oz. = 26 g)- low in fat, high in iron
• Bison (4 oz. = 30 g)- low in fat, high in potassium
• Ground Turkey (4 oz = 30 g)- low in fat and carbs
• Duck (1 c. = 27 g)- high in fat, good source of vitamin B-6
• Mealworms (100 g = 14-25 g)- high in fat
• Black Soldier Fly Larvae (100 g = 50%)- high in fat but a sustainable alternative to mealworms, also helps with calcium absorption
• Raw Meat– feed raw meat with caution and only feed raw meat from reliable sources
• Raw Fish– raw fish can be fed to chickens, however, too much fish can effect the taste of meat and eggs

Dairy Sources:

• Yogurt (100 g = 10 g)- be aware that too much dairy can cause diarrhea
• Cheese (100 g = 26 g)- limit dairy products as chickens are not naturally made to digest dairy
• Milk (1 c. = 8 g)- limit dairy products,
• Whey (1 c. = 2 g)- limit dairy products

Once you are aware of the protein needs within your flock, you will be able to better cater to their needs by knowing about the different protein sources for chickens. Should you feed a plant-based protein, meat-based protein, or both? Knowing the pros and cons of both types of proteins will help you as you provide supplemental protein sources to your homestead flock during times when their protein needs change. Plant-based protein sources are a good option to help your flock get the protein they need during warm weather or to help decrease the amount of fat in their diet without compromising protein. Meat-based proteins are excellent for providing a complete source of all the essential amino acids needs by chickens to stay healthy. They are also beneficial during the fall molt and cold weather.

Giving your flock supplemental protein on a regular basis can help keep them healthy and productive!

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by Alexa