Can I feed my chickens just oyster shell & cracked corn?

[SmallFarmChick]

Hey y'all!

Can I feed just my hens cracked corn and oyster shells? Plus chicken-friendly scraps? I've heard of free range meat chickens that are only fed cracked corn. Can my laying hens be happy and healthy on corn and added oyster shell? It was an idea. Just wondering if my hens could live and produce eggs on a diet such as that. Thanks ahead of time!!!!

 

[eggtraspecial]

corn is best fed in winter months for extra energy and fat, a good laying mash or laying pellets are best for your best egg production.

 

[Trefoil]

The short answer. No.

 

[BettyBlueSilkie]

no way

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

You "can" but they won't be healthy nor productive on a restricted diet

 

[the foot]

My Delawares roost in their coop at night but roam free during the day. Roaming free, they get all the protein they need and then some. They hardly eat their layer crumbles that I always provide. They are healthy and lay like crazy. However, they will go down on scratch feed and eat all of it. If your chickens are always in the coop, I think you should offer more than scratch feed for their health and productivity.