I had a thought this morning. This comes from the experience of working at a Vet clinic and thinking quite a bit about the quality of pet foods. While it's true that many commercial foods have the benefit of being scientifically designed to provide required nutrients in the amounts necessary, commercial layer feed has been designed for the needs of farmers and egg production. It really doesn't benefit the farmer, who is raising chickens, not as pets, but as a source of eggs, to have a chicken lay well for a few years then slowly stop laying to live out a long happy life, eating feed, but not producing any eggs. For them, it's more beneficial for the chicken to lay like mad for a few years, even at the expense of longevity, then simply poop out. When I started with chickens, all I heard was how it was best to use a commercial layer feed, but perhaps that is the issue. Especially for those of us who choose not to, or aren't allowed to let the chickens free range. I'm starting to think that in the case of a backyard flock, where we of course want eggs, but also are prepared to retire our girls to live out possibly years, not laying, we need to consider alternate food sources.
I'm starting to consider this feed,
https://www.scratchandpeck.com/shop/naturally-free-layer/ and possibly trying to ferment it, and adding in a lot more bugs and greens. Again, I had heard too many treats were bad because the hens wouldn't eat enough of the layer feed, but I have a hard time believing that since free range chickens eat stuff all day long. It's pricier than regular layer feed, but then again, if what I want is a healthy pet instead of just an egg machine, it seems like a logical move.
sweet girl was trying but evidently the shells never formed as they should have. Since this problem is recurrent with Ellie, I have to keep an eye her. The Cal-Nate and full spectrum lighting have helped immensely!
