Best Chicken Feeds for Laying Hens

Introduction

The best chicken feeds for laying hens from a reputable feed supplier contain all the nutrients the chickens require in the ideal ratios. A diet must be balanced to get the best levels of growth and output.

 Also, while using these feeds, make sure you avoid other supplements. Supplementing with other foods might upset the balance of the diet if you employ an unhealthy diet that does not fit the nutritional demands of your flocks. The intended application is noted on the label of each feed bag.

Groups of Chicken Feed

You don’t need to worry if you are confused about the Best Chicken Feed For your Laying Hens. It’s normal, especially when you are new to the business.

 If you don’t know this chicken feeds off by heart, that’s acceptable. To avoid choosing the incorrect type from the start, familiarize yourself with these first.

Mash

This feed stands out for its distinctively finely ground texture. For girls, this is a terrific option. It can be further softened by adding water to make it resemble oatmeal. When chicks flick dry mash around, they frequently scatter.

Crumble

These are very little pieces of feed, and the granules are around the size of mush. You can add water to it to make a feed with an oatmeal-like consistency.

Pellets

 This feed comprises microscopic grains frequently sold on the market as cylinder-shaped pellets. They can accommodate adult chickens.

Shell Grit

You can use this feed in addition to or on your main menu. It is primarily composed of pulverized seashells.

It can look to be gravelly. Additional minerals for your chicken’s diet-related health are provided by calcium-rich shell grit.

What Are The Nutritional Needs of Chicken?

When purchasing chicken feed, there are a few factors to consider. You must ensure that they receive the proper nutrition in their diets. Still, you must also remember the fact that hens prefer to be able to eat at any time. Cost considerations may be relevant to some of you. We’ve made a few ideas that should help you make your decision.

While their maturity and the possibility that you might have other hens in your flock than egg-layers are crucial factors, all chickens require specific nutrients in their diet. Like many other animals, chickens require carbohydrates, protein, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. It is critical to look for a feed with a decent recipe.

Scratch and Peck Organic Layer Pellets

Scratch and Peck Organic Layer Pellets, a healthy organic option for your hens, are the best chicken feed for laying hens overall. These pellets are certified as organic and non-GMO. They are produced using only organic ingredients such as wheat, peas, barley, and flaxseed meal. The grubs incorporated give these pellets a welcome protein boost.

Your hens will receive the nutrition they require without eating extra calories, thanks to this feed’s lack of cheap additives like soy. This product is a great source of calcium as well. Your chickens’ diet must be high in calcium since it thickens the eggshells. You can also give this mixture to hens and ducks you raise.

Kalmbach Feeds All Natural Layer Crumbles

The All-Natural Layer Crumbles from Kalmbach Feeds are an excellent option if you’re searching for a feed that isn’t organic or non-GMO but still has natural and nutritious components. Both soybean meal and corn are found in this product. After that, it is nutritionally enhanced with various vitamins and minerals.

This feed doesn’t contain any animal by-products, making it a better option than other feeds that do so as inexpensive fillers. Due to the high calcium content of Kalmbach Layer Crumbles, your hens will produce eggs with tougher shells. It is offered in 25-pound and 50-pound bags.

Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed

 The Small Pet Select layer feed is the finest choice for ensuring the health of your birds since it is packed with fresh, natural ingredients in the Pacific Northwest.

Non-GMO chicken feed is soy- and corn-free, containing everything your flock requires to thrive. With a light basting of Omega-3 vegetable oil, this combination combines necessary high protein pellets, grains, and seeds.

It Is considered one of the Best Chicken Feeds for Laying Hens since it contains all the good stuff (wheat, flax seeds, fish meal, pumpkin sunflower, millet, kelp, vitamins, and other essential nutrients). It also has calcium, so you don’t have to add it separately. Store the bag in a cool, dry place to keep the ingredients fresh.

Kalmbach Feeds

With this brand, you can get organic feed for your egg-laying Kalmbach Chicken Feed chickens containing Omega.

High levels of amino acids are included in this brand. Additionally, they contain a lot of calcium, which is beneficial for making eggs stronger. Specifically, calcium is necessary to grow eggs with robust, healthy shells.

Wheat middlings, soybean meal, cereals, and various vitamins, including several ingredients, are the major components of this kind of chicken feed. Depending on your budget and the purchase, you can choose to buy this feed in 40 or 50-pound bags. This chicken feed, especially the layered feed, is perfect for your flock of birds, especially layers because it contains a wide variety of necessary nutrients.

Manna Pro Oyster Shell

All chickens should take grit as a supplement because it helps metabolism by further decomposing scratch grains and feed. For laying hens, however, calcium-added grit is necessary.

Giving your chickens more calcium in their diet is highly advised to help them produce strong eggshells, and Manna Pro Oyster Shell is the best calcium supplement for any chicken you are rearing.

It includes coral calcium and crushed oyster shells, which give hens all the extra calcium they need to lay robust eggs. To maintain its purity, it is additionally heat-treated, so you know you’re getting a high-quality product!

Because it contains coral calcium and crushed oyster shells, which offer hens the extra calcium they need to lay healthy eggs, you can be confident you’re getting a high-quality product. To keep its purity, it is also heated.

Starting at 18 weeks, your pullets or mature laying hens may be fed oyster shells from the Manna Pro brand, a pellet-size, soluble grit. The oyster shell is broken down and absorbed by your hens’ digestive tract, which then stores it for later use.

While you can include this in your layer feed, I suggest using it in a separate feeder along with their regular grit to be sure they are getting enough in their diet.

 Hiland-Naturals Non-GMO Chicken Grower feed

This company sells a variety of chicken feed, particularly for layers. Hiland-Naturals Non-GMO Chicken Grower is a blend of nutrient-dense foods like corn, soybean meal, soybeans, and other vitamins and minerals. This brand of non-GMO food claims high calcium and other mineral concentrations essential to humans.

Additionally, once you start feeding your birds Hiland-Natural Non-GMO Chicken Grower, you won’t need to offer them any grains. Depending on your desired size, you can get it in 10 or 50-pound bags.

Brown’s Layer Booster Chicken Feed

Only organic plant protein is used in Brown’s Layer Booster’s feed, making it special. They add vitamins and minerals in amounts intended for thick outer shells to their grower/layer meal, which does not include animal proteins or lipids.

This food is not advised for chickens younger than 18 weeks due to its high protein and calcium content. Although their feed costs are not the lowest on the market, this is a wonderful option if you seek food without animal protein.

Purina Complete Layer Hen Feed

The Purina Complete Layer Hen Feed is an excellent choice for your egg-laying hens. This feed has been supplemented with marigolds, giving your eggs gorgeous, vibrant yolks. Additionally, it has been strengthened with prebiotics and probiotics, which will strengthen the immune systems of your chickens. Overall, this is the one for you if you want a well-known brand and a straightforward but dependable feed.

Type of Supplements For Chicken Feeds

Oyster Shell

The oyster shell should be placed on a separate plate and in the run. Since some chickens won’t like it and too much calcium might be harmful over time, always provide free choice. The most crucial supplement for your chickens is this one.

Grit

Grit is crucial in assisting chicken digestion since it will help your chickens break down and digest their meal. Adult birds that are allowed to roam freely rarely require grit, but if your hens are kept in pens, they will need the grit to aid with digestion.

Grain Scratch

A blend of grains and cracked maize is called scratch grains. Since it only contains about 9% protein, it should never be used as a meal replacement. You can provide a small amount of scratch as a treat for your hens at night.

Cracked corn

Just Like the scratch, cracked corn is a treat that your hens will sure enjoy.

Conclusion

The finest feature of the best chicken feeds for laying hens is that they can remain fresh for up to four weeks after opening. However, feeds typically don’t last four weeks before being eaten. Just make sure to buy enough chicken feed while keeping in mind its expiration date.

To prevent spoilage, you might also wish to accurately estimate the size of your feed.

If you want don’t want to make your own feed and what to buy one for your livestock, you can check out the article I wrote about the 5 best types of poultry feed.