Chickens require a diet consisting of proteins, vitamins, and minerals in an easy-to-digest formula in order to produce quality eggs. When looking for feed intended specifically for egg laying hens, look for those that offer all these vital elements.
Hens produce eggs that require high levels of calcium and vitamins for production. To ensure they receive all of these essential nutrients for healthy production of eggs, select a complete layer feed.
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Kalmbach Feeds All Natural Layer Crumbles
No matter where your chickens reside – free-range or otherwise – it is essential that they receive enough calcium. Therefore, the optimal laying feed contains at least 3.25 percent calcium along with other important vitamins like Vitamin D and Magnesium.
Once your chicks have outgrown grower feed and are approaching egg-laying age, they require layer feed which has been tailored specifically for table egg producers (layers). It typically comes in crumble, pellet, or scratch form and contains vitamins and minerals for healthy hens and optimal egg production.
Avoid making homemade feed blends yourself as their calculations and ingredients may interfere with growth in young chickens and egg production in layers. Also, mixing in extra table scraps or treats could dilute the nutrients found in complete poultry feed – for optimal performance of your flock it’s best to maintain one type of feed throughout their lives.
Homestead Harvest Non-GMO Layer Blend
Feed your flock this premium chicken feed and ensure their long-term health and well-being with this nutritional boost. It supports increased egg production while supporting digestive health with probiotics to support gut health. Plus, its ingredients contain kelp, oyster shells and diatomaceous earth to provide essential minerals necessary for their development and proper growth.
This Non-GMO cracked grain blend is free from soy and corn. Packed with minerals and additional calcium for quality eggshells, and offering higher omega 3 content through linseed oil. Plus it features essential herbs, vitamins, and essential oils for an all-around nutritional program!
Homestead Harvest is created at Ernst Grain & Livestock, a 7th generation family farm dedicated to excellence. This product makes an excellent choice for small-scale farmers and backyard enthusiasts alike, and ideal for feeding quail, pheasants, turkeys and other game birds as well as available in both grower formula and layer formula options.
Kalmbach 17% Hi-Omegga All Natural Layer
High-quality complete chicken feed is crucial to the health and fertility of poultry. While many owners opt to supplement their flock’s diet with kitchen scraps and grains from home, doing so may dilute some of the essential vitamins found in commercially prepared feed and cause soft or unfertilized eggs.
For optimal egg production, laying hens must consume a diet with at least 16% crude protein daily. You should switch laying hens onto layer feed at 18 weeks old so they get all of the essential vitamins and minerals required for successful egg production.
Most commercially prepared laying chicken feed contains protein sources like corn, soybean meal and fish meal to provide adequate levels of protein but they may deplete calcium reserves of your hens. Therefore it’s important to choose high quality feed formulated with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D and an abundance of minerals like calcium, phosphorous and magnesium for maximum performance and to protect their health during egg production.
Full Plume Feathering Feed
Chickens require energy in the form of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids (fats and oils) for egg production. Chicken feed contains all three of these important sources of nutrition.
Hens that have recently begun to lay require special feed called “layer feed,” designed specifically to give egg-laying chickens the calcium and amino acids needed for successful egg production. Layer feed comes in several formats including mash, crumble or pellet form.
While it can be tempting to supplement your chickens’ diet with kitchen scraps and treats from time to time, such as kitchen waste or treats from outside sources, such as fruits or nuts from your pantry, these should only be provided on an occasional basis since they do not provide them with sufficient protein and calcium – too often can actually harm a chicken’s health! Invest in providing them with complete, nutritious layer food so they live longer and produce more eggs.
