layer feed?

carybear

In the Brooder
9 Years
Mar 23, 2010
26
0
22
Okay I'm still learning and heard that layer feed has hormones in it to make the hens lay other wise you need a rooster to fertalize the eggs to get hens to lay. is this true?

I'm sorry if this is obvious to everyone but me.
 
I don't know about the hormones, but I am sure you can find plenty of layer feed without them, and you don't need them to get your hens to lay. You also do not need a rooster to get hens to lay. Good feed with adequate protein and calcium, clean water, clean coop and nest boxes, 15 hours of light, either daylight or artificial lighting, and you're good to go. No rooster or hormones required.

UGCM
 
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Layer feed is just feed with extra calcium added, to support the hens when they make eggs (eggshells). Nothing hormone-like added. Hens ovulate just like all other vertebrates, on a regular basis. Only thing you need a rooster for is to fertilize those eggs, if you want more generations of chickens. But that egg's gonna pop out, if it's ready, whether there's a rooster or not.
 
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Completely untrue. In fact in the United States it's illegal and has been for decades.
...other wise you need a rooster to fertalize the eggs to get hens to lay. is this true?

Also not true. Chickens, like humans, are going to create eggs whether there is a male in the picture or not. The rooster is only necessary if you want to hatch an egg. The modern day commercial egg industry is nearly entirely all based on non-fertilized eggs.

We were all new to this stuff once.

.....Alan.​
 
OH yay! Thank you all so much! I'm happy to know that I don't need a rooster or added hormones for my chickens. That was probably going to be a deal breaker for me.

The more I read the more excited I get to get my chickens....now to hurry up and do it!

Thanks again! you all rock!
 
Yes, don't feel bad that you didn't know they didn't need a rooster to lay. LOTS of people think that, including people who have been around animals.

And I have also had people who indicated that they think that hens will nurse their chicks.

Chickens are very pleasant animals to be around. I think you will really like them.

Before I had the internet and we were short of money and only had one vehicle, I was stuck out here on the farm all day with little kids. I would get so lonely, and when I when out to the coop and watched the hens gossiping and clucking about and scratching, I could just feel the lonliness drip off.

Kids are grown now and I have my own car, but still enjoy the hens.

Catherine
 

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