Layena feed

Is anyone familiar with Layena feed? My friend recommended it to me and said that since she has been using it her eggs have a much better shell and that her hens feathers look better and the hen is more healthy overall. She said it does not contain animal protein,

Does it matter what the source of protein is as long as they get enough of it? I am not familiar with all the different brands and mostly depend on TSC. Thanks.

nova022 said:

Is anyone familiar with Layena feed?  My friend recommended it to me and said that since she has been using it her eggs have a much better shell and that her hens feathers look better and the hen is more healthy overall.  She said it does not contain animal protein,

Does it matter what the source of protein is as long as they get enough of it?  I am not familiar with all the different brands and mostly depend on TSC.  Thanks.

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Layena is a purina brand of chicken feed. I stick with local, but it is a good feed from what I've heard. In my opinion animal protein is important. Chickens are not vegetarians

Also - make sure you do not feed layer to non-laying hens. They should be producing eggs before you start them on it.

If this is their first winter and they are laying, go ahead and get the Layena. If it is their second year, a higher protein feed during the off season is a good thing. It helps them grow back their feathers with added protein.

Because of local TSC stores, many backyard keepers of just a few birds know of little else than Purina. That's fine. So don't take my comments as overly negative, but some of us live a different reality. First, the lack of animal protein is negative for me. Chickens really do need animal protein. Second, the price of Purina at TSC. When one has 40 chickens on the ground, buying Purina, at those prices, just isn't affordable.

Finding a local feed mill that grind their own feed is essential for both nutrition and economic reasons for many us. Our local mill grinds their own Hubbard, 17% Layer for almost half the price of Purina at TSC. Save 50 cents by returning the feed bag. LOL. Old fashioned feed bag with a draw string.

aoxa said:

Layena is a purina brand of chicken feed. I stick with local, but it is a good feed from what I've heard. In my opinion animal protein is important. Chickens are not vegetarians

Also - make sure you do not feed layer to non-laying hens. They should be producing eggs before you start them on it.
If this is their first winter and they are laying, go ahead and get the Layena. If it is their second year, a higher protein feed during the off season is a good thing. It helps them grow back their feathers with added protein.

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Thanks, I didn't know that chickens weren't vegetarians, although I guess I should have figured it out from reading everything people feed them. My chicks are just 7 weeks old so it will be a while before they need layer feed, but I am researching my options so I can do what is best for them. With layer feed do you still need to offer oyster shells?

Fred's Hens said:

Because of local TSC stores, many backyard keepers of just a few birds know of little else than Purina.  That's fine.  So don't take my comments as overly negative, but some of us live a different reality.   First, the lack of animal protein is negative for me.  Chickens really do need animal protein.  Second, the price of Purina at TSC.  When one has 40 chickens on the ground, buying Purina, at those prices, just isn't affordable.

Finding a local feed mill that grind their own feed is essential for both nutrition and economic reasons for many us.  Our local mill grinds their own Hubbard, 17% Layer for almost half the price of Purina at TSC.  Save 50 cents by returning the feed bag.  LOL.    Old fashioned feed bag with a draw string.  

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That's the same kind of bags we get at our feed store. Purina doesn't sell them like that? Huh.. I have never tried to buy anything but locally ground feed.

How much is Layena a bag?

Fred's Hens said:

Because of local TSC stores, many backyard keepers of just a few birds know of little else than Purina. That's fine. So don't take my comments as overly negative, but some of us live a different reality. First, the lack of animal protein is negative for me. Chickens really do need animal protein. Second, the price of Purina at TSC. When one has 40 chickens on the ground, buying Purina, at those prices, just isn't affordable.

Finding a local feed mill that grind their own feed is essential for both nutrition and economic reasons for many us. Our local mill grinds their own Hubbard, 17% Layer for almost half the price of Purina at TSC. Save 50 cents by returning the feed bag. LOL. Old fashioned feed bag with a draw string.

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Thanks for the info. I only have 5 chicks at the moment, but I do plan on getting more now that I have found out how much I enjoy having them. I will be looking for a local feed mill now so that when that time comes I will have a less expensive option. The sad thing is I love old feed bags, so I will probably not get my 50 cents back. LOL.

nova022 said:

Thanks, I didn't know that chickens weren't vegetarians, although I guess I should have figured it out from reading everything people feed them.  My chicks are just 7 weeks old so it will be a while before they need layer feed, but I am researching my options so I can do what is best for them.  With layer feed do you still need to offer oyster shells? 

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With layer feed they can still produce soft shelled eggs. Just spoke with my friend yesterday and her hen was laying eggs with no shells and they were all on layer. She had some that were very young, and I explained the dangers of layer on chicks that were 8 weeks old. The feed store recommended layer anyway. I don't understand why they don't educate their staff... Anyway.. Enough of that.

You can feed a grower ration and add oyster shell all year round. That's how I do things. If I could afford game bird feed, I would buy that instead, but it is at least $5 extra a bag, and I go though 3 1/2 - 4 bags of feed a week. I can't afford it.

I have seen my chickens catch and kill mice, frogs, and way too many bugs to count. They definitely like their meat. If I have a stir-fry with meat and have leftovers, they eat it. They LOVE the meat.

Fred's Hens said:

Because of local TSC stores, many backyard keepers of just a few birds know of little else than Purina. That's fine. So don't take my comments as overly negative, but some of us live a different reality. First, the lack of animal protein is negative for me. Chickens really do need animal protein. Second, the price of Purina at TSC. When one has 40 chickens on the ground, buying Purina, at those prices, just isn't affordable.

Finding a local feed mill that grind their own feed is essential for both nutrition and economic reasons for many us. Our local mill grinds their own Hubbard, 17% Layer for almost half the price of Purina at TSC. Save 50 cents by returning the feed bag. LOL. Old fashioned feed bag with a draw string.

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I can't find a local mill at all in New England. Its probably easier to find them where the crops grow.... Blue Seal headquarters isn't too far away however even buying directly from their shop only saves about $1 a bag. I'm looking into what I can do next year to grow out a garden just for my chickens with different plants maturing at different times for them.

puglady said:

I can't find a local mill at all in New England. Its probably easier to find them where the crops grow.... Blue Seal headquarters isn't too far away however even buying directly from their shop only saves about $1 a bag. I'm looking into what I can do next year to grow out a garden just for my chickens with different plants maturing at different times for them.

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If you ever find one let me know! I've had no luck either.

I even asked the turkey farm in central ME where we get our holiday turkeys what their source is, and they get their feed from Canada. A little too far for me!

keesmom said:

If you ever find one let me know! I've had no luck either.

I even asked the turkey farm in central ME where we get our holiday turkeys what their source is, and they get their feed from Canada. A little too far for me!

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Same here. I have not been able to find one, but I really just started looking. I will have to ask some of the farmers where they get their feed. They raise cattle and horses, but I would think if they use a mill it would make chicken food too.