At 18 weeks, hens are ready to start producing nutritious eggs that contain high levels of protein and calcium. In order to produce high quality eggs, high proteins are required in their diet along with calcium supplements.
Many chicken owners supplement their layer feed with greens and table scraps, which provide some essential vitamins. Unfortunately, however, these sources of nutrition cannot fully substitute a formulated layer feed formula.
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Homestead Harvest Non-GMO Layer Blend
Homestead Harvest’s Non-GMO Layer Blend was specifically created to promote optimal health in laying hens and ducks. This family-made feed is packed with minerals, vitamins, probiotics and Omega 3 fatty acids – not to mention an assortment of natural supplements such as diatomaceous earth, oyster shells and essential oils and herbs for added boost!
High quality 19% protein grower and layer feed for mixed flocks of chickens, turkeys, geese, guineas and quail. Meets all niacin requirements of poultry while meeting young chicken needs as well as those of laying hens.
This feed offers an optimal combination of calcium and amino acids to promote strong eggshells in birds. Ideal for small-scale farmers and backyard enthusiasts alike. Comes packaged in 25lb bags.
Layena + Omega 3
Many of the best chicken feed brands provide options tailored specifically to the needs of your flock, from organic and/or soy-free ingredients, to those made with regeneratively grown grubs for maximum protein content.
Chickens require a diet consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, minerals and vitamins in order to be healthy and happy egg layers. By selecting the appropriate poultry feed you will ensure your egg-laying flock can flourish healthily and happily.
This layer chicken feed is a 16% protein, high-calcium diet formulated with omega-3 rich flaxseed oil to promote hen health and boost egg production. Additionally, its formula incorporates larger oyster shells than limestone for maximum calcium absorption during both daytime and night time shell formation. Plus it boasts an abundance of amino acids for maximum efficiency.
Prairie’s Choice Grower & Layer Feed
Aiming to bring backyard poultry keeping into their life? Navigating the chicken feed market may be confusing for both newcomers and semi-experienced keepers, with words like mash, grower feed, medicated or unmedicated feed being difficult for some to understand.
Starter and grower feeds typically contain 19 to 24% protein with less calcium content compared to layer feed. Pullets should only transition to layer feed once they begin laying; switching prematurely could cause kidney disease due to too much calcium being consumed.
Prairie’s Choice provides starter, grower and layer feed that is free from GMO ingredients – made from wheat rye barley peas sesame meal and other nutrients – without added hormones or antibiotics – it even comes packaged in 25lb bags! It comes with ground limestone and oyster shell for additional calcium boost.
Kalmbach Grower & Layer Feed
Many backyard chicken keepers rely on complete starter and grower feed to care for their chicks until they’re old enough to become laying hens. This feed may or may not contain amprolium, an antimicrobial chemical which helps safeguard against diseases like coccidiosis.
A complete layer feed is specifically formulated to meet the nutrient needs of laying hens, and has an altered protein and calcium ratio compared to starter/grower feeds. A higher calcium level helps ensure strong shelled eggs for production.
Brown’s Layer Booster is one such feed designed specifically to meet each stage of a hen’s lifecycle and include supplements with high levels of Omega-3s, natural plant proteins and calcium for maximum egg production.
Brown’s Layer Booster
Chickens have differing nutritional needs at various stages in their lives. Chicks and young layers require higher protein diets with additional calcium than adults for proper growth and egg shell formation. A mash or crumble variety should be offered when young chicks arrive, while pellets become more suitable later on. Scratch mixes containing too many empty calories such as corn or sunflower seeds should only be fed occasionally to increase egg production rather than reduce it further.
A complete layer feed should contain 16-18% protein and an optimal mix of key vitamins and minerals, including shell grit to aid hens in digesting their food and transferral of calcium onto egg shells. Premium quality layer food will use natural ingredients without hormones or antibiotics being added as fillers.
