Does layers mash increase the eggs production?

[Daisycar]

Hi everybody, I'm asking as it's my first experience and I'd like to know more about chickens feeding. Since September, when I've got home my exbatts, they continuously layed a lot of normal eggs (rarely a soft shelled egg), even during all winter time. I live in Italy, now the weather is very nice, warm and days are longer. Unexpectedly they stopped laying eggs for about ten days and now I find every single day one broken soft egg and sometimes one egg, often very large. I'm feeding them with layers food that contains pellets and a variety of grains and oyster shell, they like it very much. Everyday I offer them greens and fruits, and sometimes I add olive oil, mashed eggshell, garlic, sprout lentils, cooked egg, various seed etc. They also free range in the garden three or four afternoons in a week.
The answer is: does layers food increase the production of eggs? Or it is necessary to provide for the nourishment their body requirements?
I would like to collect fewer egg as I think their body needs to rest. If I purchase another tipe of food, will they reduce the production? I'm worried for those soft eggs, I thing it isn't a good sign of health. Can anybody give me any suggestion? I'm very affectionate and I'd like to see them happy and healthy. Thank you in advance to you all.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

If I purchase another tipe of food, will they reduce the production? I'm worried for those soft eggs, I thing it isn't a good sign of health. Can anybody give me any suggestion?

Hi there!

Food type will effect production and bird condition but let me explain some...

First two things which effect production are genetics and daylight. Egg laying hormone increases as daylight increases and vice versa. For this reason it is important NOT to provide nighttime light as it effects hormone function and sleep quality which effects everything else immune system related.

Now actually "layer" mash has all the nutrients needed for most birds... an in fact adding in greens, seeds, olive oil and the like may be diminishing nutrients not increasing them... though they will increase enrichment value... it's important not to give more than 10% of the total daily ration in treats. Fruits are high sugar and seeds are high fat. In no way is adding pure fat like olive oil actually going to benefit really anyone, IMO.

Layer feed is usually (in the US) around 16% protein and 4% calcium. It is essentially lower in protein and amino acids while being higher in calcium than other chicken feeds available.

Now a soft shelled egg is very often the result of a hiccup in the reproductive system... maybe the egg went through too fast or something like that. Very rarely is a softee actually a sign of calcium deficit.. if it is a chronic condition in a specific hen she might be having shell gland issues and need more help.

I personally prefer to use a starter feed, flock raiser, or grower if possible and offer the oyster shell or whatever calcium source y'all use there free choice in the side. My reason for this is because they all have higher amounts of protein and amino acids... which feathers are made 90% from... Also 22% protein was shown to give the highest hatch rate which says to me more nutrients in the eggs my family is consuming even though the other feed cost a bit more than "layer". Carbs are a cheaper energy source than protein in most locations. An when it comes to chickens lets not forget that despite most feeds being vegetarian they are actually omnivores that NEED the animal derived amino acids... so peas won't offer the same benefit as say a little mackerel just as example. The amino acids are added synthetically to feeds here... BUT since making the switch (to flock raiser with 20% protein and higher amino acid levels, with only about 1% calcium),.. my older birds have less harsh molts, the difference is phenomenal.. they used to lose personality and become very withdrawn during that time avoiding the flock and me. But now they just get quite for a short time, still coming around and even hanging out on my lap..

I guess my point is "layer" feed is essentially the bare MINIMUM to keep a light bodied layer like Leghorn in laying condition.. Heavier bodied birds will do best on at least 18% protein.. Big chicken isn't trying to provide the best they are trying to get their best conversion ratio.. least amount of nutrients and energy to maximum egg production. Providing more won't increase your egg production or decrease it.. it will increase your birds condition and give you amazing eggs to boot!

Extra grains... not included as part of the pelleted ration.. often decrease nutrients... which are added into the pelleted ration... so if your using them, do so as a personal treat or enrichment and not mixed into their feed... as some birds have been known to pick out the tasty bits leading to nutrient deficit and even fatty liver hemorrhagic syndrome (though usually predisposed genetically for the later).

Hope this helps!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hi, welcome to BYC. How old are your hens? You say you got them in September. Were they chicks at that time or laying hens? Did something stress them when they stopped laying that you can think of? To be sure your hens are getting all the nutrients they need from their layer feed to stay healthy and make good eggs, do not overfeed the treats. Egg production is a function of biology, it's simple ovulation and all female animals do it. Providing proper nutrition is just good management. Treats should not comprise more than 10% of the diet or that balance of nutrition will be compromised, and the health of the animal will suffer in one way or another. Personally, I think it's a good idea to provide oyster shell in a separate dish as well as grit, of course. Your birds will take what they need. The oyster shell is for egg production, the grit is for digestion. They need both. Oyster shell certainly won't hurt and may help. Good luck and enjoy your flock!

 

[GC-Raptor]

Yeah, cut out all the extras. Nothing but Layer feed and water.
As EggSighted4Life said Layers feed is minimum amount of Protein.
Limit treats to what they consume in 15 to 20 minutes.
Layers feed won't increase egg production, but does contain everything needed to produce hard shelled eggs when it's the sole feed ration.
Any extras will dilute needed nutrients to produce good quality eggs. From Hy-line international.

GC

 

[Daisycar]

Thank you so much EggSighted4Life, BigBlueHen53, GC-Raptor, I've treasured your advices and explainations. Maybe my desire to give them the best pleasures of their new life is producing negative effects.

They're Lohmann brown, about two years old, I've taken with me in September from a factory farm, when they were about 18 month, I rescued from going to the slaughterhouse.

There's nothing I can think could have stressed them, I thought they stopped laying cause their age but after a while they started over again to produce those eggs I've described.
I will be more ungenerous with treats in the future and I will follow your precious advices.

GRAZIE!!!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You're very welcome. Can we get pictures of your lovely birds?

 

[Daisycar]

Of course! I' so proud of them, the trasformation from poor little things in healty birds it is evident! I didn't imagine how much chickens can be lovely and interesting beings. Thank you for asking me.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Wow, you certainly have transformed them! They are beautiful.

 

[Acre4Me]

They look sweet! Good luck.

I will treat my birds with wet feed sprinkled with seeds or scrambled eggs (with shell crushed and blended in). They think it’s special, even though it’s just water added to their feed. That way the get a treat, but don’t miss out on their needed chicken nutrition.

 

[Daisycar]

That's a good idea. I will do it in the afternoon ratio, to let them think it's a special meal. I've noticed they appreciate when some water falls casually in the feeder. Thank you too Acre4Me!