In order to ensure that your flock will lay eggs, you need to provide the right chicken feed and supplements. These should be provided in moderation. Ideally, the primary bulk of the chickens’ sustenance should come from feed. Supplements should only be given to the flock every 15-20 minutes. In addition to proper diet, the flock should have adequate space to eat at one time. Overcrowding and improper trough setup can cause problems over time.
Contents
Layer feed
Choosing the right chicken feed for laying eggs is critical for the health and productivity of your flock. There are several factors to consider, including the amount of protein, calcium, and other nutrients your hens need. A balanced feed provides these nutrients at just the right proportions to keep chickens healthy and laying eggs at a high rate. Commercial poultry feeds can be in pellet, mash, or crumbed form. They are composed of a blend of grains, grit, and calcium. Some poultry feeds contain other supplemental ingredients, such as seeds and grass.
A complete layer feed should provide 90 percent of the hens’ daily calories. Ideally, this feed contains 14% or more protein. Some types of feed also contain minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients your hens need to thrive.
Scratch feed
Chickens require a proper diet in order to lay eggs. Scratch feed is different from layer feed because it contains little nutritional value and little protein. Therefore, you should not feed your chickens scratch alone. You should feed them a combination of scratch and good layer feed.
The best time to feed your chickens scratch is late in the afternoon. They should have finished eating the regular feed by then. They should be given just enough scratch to finish their meal within fifteen to twenty minutes.
Oyster shell grit
Oyster shell grit is a natural source of calcium for chickens. Chickens need calcium to build strong, protective eggshells. When added to their diet, oyster shells are safe for chickens and can improve the health of farm fresh eggs.
Oyster shell grit can be purchased in feed stores. It is inexpensive and lasts for a long time. It’s an essential ingredient for healthy chickens and maximum egg production.
Oyster shell calcium
Chickens need plenty of calcium in their diet to lay healthy eggs. Commercial chicken feed contains only a tiny amount of calcium, so laying hens must supplement their diet with additional calcium. One of the most important calcium sources for laying hens is oyster shell. But oyster shell should only be given to laying hens when they are at least eighteen weeks old. If given earlier, it may damage the kidneys of young chickens.
Oyster shell contains high amounts of calcium, which can help strengthen chicken bones and help them lay more eggs. One oyster shell can last about 90 minutes in a chicken’s digestive tract. This is enough time for the calcium to dissolve in its bloodstream. Because chickens take about 25 hours to produce a single egg, it’s crucial to provide enough calcium to keep them healthy.
Fermenting chicken feed
You can start by fermenting some of the feed that your chickens will be eating during the day. Make sure to use dechlorinated water or filtered water for fermentation. Add the water to the feed and stir it every day. This process should take from one to four days. After fermentation is complete, you can feed the feed to your chickens. The feed should have a bubbly, sourdough-like smell.
To ferment the feed, you will need a bucket or two. The first bucket should contain the feed for a day. The second bucket should contain the feed for the next day. You should then transfer the feed to the third bucket. Repeat these steps each day to ensure your flock gets the best possible nutrition.
Changing feed too often
Changing chicken feed for laying eggs too frequently can compromise the quality of the feed. In general, it is advisable to use quality, fresh chicken feed that provides at least 90 percent of a hen’s daily diet. Treats and scratch should not make up more than 10 percent of a hen’s daily intake. Feeding treats and scratch too often can cause nutritional deficiencies. As a result, you should only give treats to chickens every few days.
Chickens are sensitive to sudden changes in their environment and health. This can cause egg laying to slow down or even stop. Luckily, most egg-laying problems are fixable. In most cases, the problem is simply a problem with the diet.
Adding table scraps
Adding table scraps to chicken feed is a great way to supplement their diets and encourage foraging behavior. Ideally, the scraps should make up about 5-10% of their daily feed. It is important to note that chickens should not eat too much scraps, as it dilutes the nutrient balance. This can lead to unhealthy and underweight birds and fewer nutritious eggs.
Although table scraps can be a great source of variety, it is important not to overfeed the chickens. You shouldn’t feed them more than 10 percent of their diet. You should also avoid giving them too much at once, as this can cause food waste. If you must give your chickens table scraps, be sure to separate them.
