Foods for feathers and eggs

[Chick2chicken]

simple discussion questions-
What foods do you use to keep your flocks feathers healthy? What foods do you use to get healthy eggs and egg shells? What foods do you feed during molt?

 

[lazy gardener]

For all needs, I use layer feed, 16% protein, and make sure it is within 6 weeks of the mill date. If I have chicks, the entire flock gets unmedicated starter. If conditioning breeders, I increase protein, and put them on a good quality multi vit. I give them access to grit and recycled egg shells or oyster shell.

My flock gets their feed fermented, has sprouted grains in the winter, and access to free range during the summer. Their run and coop are both deep litter management which also boosts their nutrition.

 

[gator75]

Fish is my favorite supplement/treat for my hens. I have plenty of scraps from the cleaning table from spring to fall. Winter I give them eggs for added protein usually. I plant patches of clover for them in the winter too. They devour that. I think they eat a lot of what they need when they free range the couple hours I let them out in the evening. Plenty of pinestraw and woods to scratch around, so lots of roaches and other bugs to eat.

I have them on standard 16% layer pellets.

They rebound quickly from the molt and my shells are always strong. I never offer additional calcium or grit.

 

[aliciaplus3]

This last year during molt I switched to the chick starter my local feed store makes, it's 23% protein and I offered oyster shell on the side, seemed to help them bounce back a little faster.