U_Stormcrow
Crossing the Road
Juist be aware that they switched to % dry weight when talking about protein. Grass is not really 16%-28% protein. They are saying that once you elminate the average 83% water content, 16-28%, but perhaps as low as 11-12% of the 17% that's left is protein.That is interesting - particularly the protein.
My chickens, and one in particular love eating grass. But they seem quite selective about what kind of grass and when.
A clumping type grass that they ignored in the late summer - so much so that I had to hack it down - is now being intensely grazed by my ladies.
IOW, compared to your 16-20% protein commercial ration, grass clippings are 1.87% protein to 4.76% protein. I.e, not a significant protein source. WHat protein it has is in a ratio of about 4:12:10:5 for the big four - Met /Lys / Thre / Tryp (Timothy), generic "grass" is about 4:12:11:4 (source: Feedtables)
If you are into "ideal protien ratios", which is a bit more retentive than I tend to be, the ratio is about 3:7:5:2 for adult layers. Its different for broilers, of course. And different for adolescents of all types.