Chickens must have access to complete feed for optimal egg production, as crumbs and scratch grains do not provide all the essential vitamins and minerals for healthy laying hens.
Consider purchasing layer feed with 16-18% protein content that contains calcium, as well as other necessary vitamins and minerals, for strong egg shells. Hens may require crushed oyster shell or grit to aid with digestion.
Contents
Protein
Protein-rich feed for laying is key for developing strong eggshells.
Hens require plenty of vitamins and minerals, and many commercial laying feeds contain extra-fortified formulas with them. Look out for ingredients like calcium carbonate and phosphorus which are key sources of vital mineral nutrients found in eggs.
Supplementing complete chicken feed with kitchen scraps, seeds or treats in small amounts is acceptable; however, providing too many “extras” at the expense of healthy complete feed may leave chickens without enough nutrients needed to support normal growth and egg production. This may result in low body weight or decreased egg production.
Calcium
Calcium to phosphorus ratio is essential to successful chicken rearing. Hens who don’t get enough calcium may consume too much feed to meet their requirements, leading to poor eggshell quality and increasing costs per dozen eggs produced.
Offering additional sources of calcium can help mitigate this issue. Crushed oyster shell is an excellent fast-release source of calcium for chickens that strengthen eggshells; it can be offered separately in feeders or mixed into layer ration. You could also offer black soldier fly grubs as a protein-rich snack that’s high in both calcium and phosphorus content – they’re easily available at most feed stores, and you could grow them easily in your backyard garden!
Vitamins
There are various vitamins necessary for chicken health and egg production. While some can be produced within their bodies, others must be obtained through diet. Requirements vary based on various factors like seasonal shifts in energy usage.
Hens require amino acids in their feed in order to produce white eggshells, along with calcium and phosphorus for strength. Poultry feed contains protein from various sources as well as methionine and lysine supplements in order to prevent deficiencies in these areas.
Addition of vitamins can significantly decrease mortality rates and enhance egg quality. Choline may reduce incidences of perosis in chicks, which causes one leg to twist at birth.
Minerals
Just like humans, chickens require an abundance of vitamins and minerals in order to thrive. Layer feed pellets, crumbles or mash can provide these essentials; however, adding extra food like grains, scraps, insects or grass may dilute their vitamin and mineral intake.
Calcium/phosphorus ratios that provide maximum absorption are essential for egg shell formation and muscle function. Culled minerals should be provided as calcium sources to ensure maximum benefit.
Vegetable oils (linolenic and linoleic acids) and animal fats (mainly triglycerides) are widely used fat additives in laying hen diets to increase egg n- 3 PUFA content, while Vitamin E may reduce oxidative stress during high intensity laying periods.
Shell Grit
Grindstones are small stones used by chickens to grind food in their gizzards and facilitate digestive functions, providing extra calcium that strengthens egg shells and egg production.
Grit can help prevent gizzard issues and boost egg production. For optimal results, provide it on a free-choice basis rather than mixing it into their feed, as overdoing calcium could lead to kidney issues in time.
Oyster shell is a form of soluble grit that provides chickens with essential calcium to produce strong eggshells. To ensure maximum effectiveness, provide oyster shell and grit separately in their own feeders to ensure each chicken takes only what it requires.
