is layer feed necessary for egg production?

[GreenMountainEric]

I never said nutrition didn't influence egg laying. I said what is fed to birds won't make them lay more eggs. Nature determines that. Rations are developed by formulators to increase egg quality, not rate of lay.

Formulations ABSOLUTELY effect the rate of laying. You can have 2 groups, of the exact same breed, and at the exact same age, and have more than a 40% difference in production with a different feed mix. We could also formulate to have the exact same egg quality in both of those groups. One would just produce a lot more than the other......

Feed formulations are made with egg quality in mind. However, formulating for production levels, is equally as important, when a nutritionist formulates a layer feed.

Of course genetics is the main determiner of the amount of eggs a hen will lay. I still don't "get" the feed only influences egg quality. I most likely (all other conditions being the same) am going to get more eggs feeding my birds a 16% feed than I will feeding 10% scratch. I will also get more eggs on a feed with better ingredients even if they are both 16-18%. My birds have always done better on a feed with 18-20% feed. Wild birds fly over my netted pen. When it rains, I may have a puddle for a few hours. I am sure mice at times may run through my pen. I believe my hens would have better luck being free ranged on my 2 acres if it were possible.

That is exactly right.

And for those that feed a "flock raiser" with free choice oyster shell.- Even if the protein is exactly the same, or higher, your chickens will most likely produce slightly less (most times, VERY slightly less and this would depend on how well formulated these feeds are) A Layer feed is formulated with more than just calcium in mind. The actual Amino Acid balance is different, and the Energy levels are typically higher. Especially fat energy. That being said, most wouldn't notice much difference feeding a flock raiser + OS. Somebody who has a flock of 300+, and sells eggs for a living, would.

 

[Michael Apple]

Formulations ABSOLUTELY effect the rate of laying. You can have 2 groups, of the exact same breed, and at the exact same age, and have more than a 40% difference in production with a different feed mix. We could also formulate to have the exact same egg quality in both of those groups. One would just produce a lot more than the other......

Feed formulations are made with egg quality in mind. However, formulating for production levels, is equally as important, when a nutritionist formulates a layer feed.

A healthy bird with good genes will lay more eggs than an unhealthy one. The time of year and amount of light determines rate of lay. Again, the quality of eggs produced is determined by diet and the health of the bird. A healthy bird lays eggs longer than an unhealthy one, thus producing more eggs. My point being that simply feeding a layer ration will not increase production. There are layer rations being produced out there that aren't worth putting in a compost pile.

 

[GreenMountainEric]

A healthy bird with good genes will lay more eggs than an unhealthy one. The time of year and amount of light determines rate of lay. Again, the quality of eggs produced is determined by diet and the health of the bird. A healthy bird lays eggs longer than an unhealthy one, thus producing more eggs. My point being that simply feeding a layer ration will not increase production. There are layer rations being produced out there that aren't worth putting in a compost pile.

Those factors absolutely play a large roll in production as well. My point was that a well formulated feed, will make the same chicken produce more eggs than a not-so well formulated layer feed...... or a feed that was not formulated with egg production in mind.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

Quote:

This thread shouldn't become what you refuse to accept as reality anyway.

No, you never provided anything other than your opinions, but if you can't or won't provide REAL informatin, that's fine too

What research I did contradicts your claims, as I have shown you

 

[Fred's Hens]

OK, we are done here.