feeding milk to chickens

Years ago a man from the Livestock Conservancy put us on to the feeding of milk to chickens. It was a landmark conversation for us, leading, as it did, one more step toward the realization that 1) all farming is some form of solar energy capture and conversion, and 2) that mostly means grass through the guts of a ruminant.

Historically, he told us, a gallon of milk was considered the daily protein ration for 100 birds. We went home and tried it with success, and began passing the tip on to others. Over time we modified his numbers, though, to 'a gallon of milk is the protein ration for 100 small-bodied layers, or 50 layers of a larger breed'.

We still think this is a good baseline, but would add, now: More milk makes more eggs, at least up to a point. The 30 layers at the convent are getting about a gallon a day and cleaning it up just fine, and they are laying at about 75%, or, to be specific, the Rhode Island Reds are at about 75-80%; the Australorps might be closer to 70-75%, and the Wyandottes are more like 50%, which tells you something about milk and something about bird breeds.