" I have always thought it was interesting how
 similar they all are, up around
 20%."

As some of you know I do pigeon genetics studies as a hobby.  Pigeons like more or less 13% balanced protein.  I feed a mix of two parts shelled corn and one part 20% game bird pellets simply because that is the most economic feed and gives roughly 13% protein.  They will do very well at lower protein amounts and raise just as many young, but sickness issues become greater, particularly in just weaned young.  A higher % does not cause any change until you get over 16% when you can start to see viability drop and abnormal feathers starting.  Pigeons are exclusive grain eaters when truly in the wild as opposed to most birds which eat a lot of insects, so are likely adapted to a bit lower protein.  Ferals in the city often will eat anything including hot dogs and are often not the healthiest birds around.

I have a friend whose daughter did a study as part of her 4H project using chickens.  She fed them commercial pelleted diets with 14%, 16% and 20% protein after they were past the baby chick diet stage.  She found that higher protein resulted in faster growth rates and higher death rates resulting in 14% being most economic.

The idea more is better does not seem to work with either pigeons or chickens.

Dick

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