Many commercial feeds advise to feed as the sole ration. These feeds are supposed to be nutritionally balanced but many do not list specific ingredients. I have hens that are constantly laying soft shelled eggs even though oyster shell is also available to them.
One hen has had serious issues with shell-less eggs and has come close to death on 2 occasions. The membrane had remained inside of her and caused partial blockage/ infection. Antibiotics and calcium supplements have restored her to good health.
The vet recommended that she stay on a balanced diet of layer pellets. Since she has always eaten layer pellets, I am wondering if these feeds are causing many of the problems that I read about on the forum. When my girls were free-ranging, I never had a problem and the flock was very healthy. I have no choice now but to keep the flock in a run due to predation.
MY questions:
Why are so many mature hens on a diet of layer pellets laying soft-shelled eggs?
Why are specific ingredients omitted from the labels? Many only carry guaranteed analysis labels and are vague regarding the "grains by products" used. To me, grain by-products are the waste materials.
Are there any brands that are superior to others?
Are organic/GMO free feeds better than the standard commercial variety?
One hen has had serious issues with shell-less eggs and has come close to death on 2 occasions. The membrane had remained inside of her and caused partial blockage/ infection. Antibiotics and calcium supplements have restored her to good health.
The vet recommended that she stay on a balanced diet of layer pellets. Since she has always eaten layer pellets, I am wondering if these feeds are causing many of the problems that I read about on the forum. When my girls were free-ranging, I never had a problem and the flock was very healthy. I have no choice now but to keep the flock in a run due to predation.
MY questions:
Why are so many mature hens on a diet of layer pellets laying soft-shelled eggs?
Why are specific ingredients omitted from the labels? Many only carry guaranteed analysis labels and are vague regarding the "grains by products" used. To me, grain by-products are the waste materials.
Are there any brands that are superior to others?
Are organic/GMO free feeds better than the standard commercial variety?
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