laying pellets

[chickenman17]

I have a free range mix of chickens that run wild and i feed them scratch every day. They don't really lay that's why. I also have 13 pullets in a pen that are just starting to lay and i've been feeding them scratch too. How much better do hens lay when they are on laying pellets? Thanks!

 

[LT]

I am not sure I can give you the best answer, but I have a flock of nine who are able to free range about 6 hours every day. We still feed them layer pellets, because it has the right amount of protein and calcium that helps with egg production. The greens they gather through ranging and the scratch is not enough nutrition to produce good layers.

 

[chickenman17]

Quote:
I see what you're saying. This especially applies to my flock because here in Oklahoma we are having a long term drought and the grass is just now starting to comeback after the couple of rains we've had. So my pen is just dirt right now because all of the grass died in the summer and hasn't came back and probably won't until spring or i may have to plant some in there. So basically i should probably start them on layer ASAP.

 

[cmom]

Quote:
I agree. Grain alone is not all the nutrition the birds need. My birds free range as well and get grains but always have a feeder full of layer feed too.

 

[LT]

I think that would be wise. The layer pellets will give them the most basic nutrition they need to stay healthy and the free-ranging is like icing on the cake! You will definitely notice a difference in egg quality due to free-ranging and a more diverse diet.

 

[al6517]

Yeah I would lay off all that scratch & corn and go to a 16% layer free choice, they will do much better on that and a little grass.

 

[ednasgirl]

This is my first bunch of chicks and I love having them. Just have ten. They are healthy and laying almost every day...usually get 7-10 eggs; When they were biddies, I fed them the medicinal mash, then changed to growth when they were old enough. I Always put out scratch grain for them, but when I changed from laying crumbles to laying pellets, they don't eat it much at all. They eat the grain and love treats, but those small pellets aren't getting eaten. They free range 6 hrs per day (and recently ate some styrofoam which concerned us).
Should I give up and go back to the layer crumbles? They are great chicks. If they stray too far, I can holler "Come on girls," they come running knowing they are about to get a treat.

 

[LT]

You can get the layer formula in crumble form too. I think it is the right blend of protein and calcium that layers really demand.