Egglaying help

[Kyleharry16]

Hello does anyone know if feeding your chickens table food affects your egg income?
Thanks-
Kyle

 

[Fritatta]

My guess would be no.
Giving them variety in their diet just makes them happier which is good for production.

What kind of scraps?

 

[Kyleharry16]

I just ment like table leftovers

 

[Fritatta]

here is a great list of good treats:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

you need to make sure they arent getting too much salt or carbs. Too much corn in the hot weather will make them hotter.

 

[Kyleharry16]

Thank you Fritatta

 

[ChicKat]

Hi Kyleharry,

wow, your question is interesting. Did you mean that the effect of table scraps for chickens would change the egg production of the chickens, or that the table scraps would reduce the cost of feed and thus income from selling eggs would be greater?

Chickens are omnivores and will eat anything. Modern science has determined the right balance for optimum growth and development and for egg laying. Feed compaines have formulated these combinations into chicken feeds that are sold at feed stores and farm and ranch supply stores. So all the good advice says to stick with the right feed for your chickens. For layers, the feeds usually have around 16% protein and extra clacium for good egg shell production. The packages tell us to feed their feeds exclusively. ( I wonder if that is marketing).

When chickens can 'free range' or be in an outdoor enclousure -- usually referred to as 'pastured poultry' then they will consume insects, seeds, grass -- what ever they can find that appeals to them. Theoretically this would cut down the cost of feed, because some of their food needs are obtained elsewhere.

Now to table scraps. Part of the answer to that question depends upon exactly what table scraps you are talking about. Healthy things like fruits, veggies, and grain products would be similar to the diet they would find while they were foraging. Humans may tend to eat foods that are less optimum, such as things that have a very high salt, sugar or fat content. These items my prevent the chicken from getting the right nutriton to maximize egg production.

sooooo the short answer to your question is 'it depends'.