My hens HATE Layena

[Lifetime chicken lover]

I have been giving my girls Layena since the oldest ones (a month older than the youngest) first started laying at 18 weeks. They used to eat a lot when they were getting Flock Raiser- I'd have to fill the trough feeder twice a day. And they'd still free-range all day and get treats!

Ever since I started Layena, they hardly eat at all! After 2-3 days, the feeder is still full!!! I used to mix the FR and L, but now I'm all out of FR.

So, my question is- how bad is it to go back to Flock Raiser for laying hens? They still get oyster shell if they want it. Some days I can't let them out to free-range, so I wonder if they are getting enough to eat. Any suggestions?

 

[donnavee]

I can't answer your question, but I'm trying to get my 18wk olds to eat Layena as well, and they don't seem too keen on it. I have been mixing with the grower feed, but like you am pretty much out of it and the feeders look basically untouched. My local TSC doesn't carry the flock raiser so I guess I will try another brand of layer feed if they don't come around.

 

[Kansaseq]

I'm not sure what the higher protein will do over a prolonged period of time, but think as long as you provide oyster shell, they should be ok. Or maybe you could just continue to mix the two when you can get to the store again.

 

[teach1rusl]

Are you using the pellets or crumbles?? I've read of many folks who say their birds won't eat the pellets. Also, I noticed that grasshoppers are out big time (at least in my area)...could your chickens be filling up on ample bugs right now??? My girls certainly have been gorging on them. I think flock raiser would be okay if you have free choice oyster shell or egg shells available for them...

 

[7L Farm]

Quote:
I think your right.My chickens have been eating a ton of grasshoppers & eveytime I look in the feeder its the same.

 

[donnavee]

Would beating up the pellets in a food processor achieve the sam result as crumbles? Hate to throw out 3/4 bag of Layena.

 

[Lifetime chicken lover]

Thanks for the support and advice. I spoke to the guy at the co-op, who has raised chickens for years. He said that as long as I am giving them oyster shell with the food, its probably ok to give other feed. He recommended Home Grown feed, which is lower protein and not in pellet form. Though I still have 3/4 bag of Layena pellets, so will probably try to break that up into smaller pieces and see if they'll eat it then.

btw, I also bought some BOSS today for the first time and after the first taste, the chickens almost knocked me over trying to get more!!

They LOVE it!! Does it also have some good nutritional value?

 

[2DogsFarm]

My girls will eat the Layena pellets but now that they are freerangers most of the day the feeder stays pretty full compared to when I kept them cooped.
Like kids: if that's all there is to eat, they'll eat it, but if there are tastier things (bugs, weeds, my garden...) around the regular food goes untouched.

The BOSS has Omega-3 fatty acids & my hens love it too.
I feed it as scratch mixed with whole oats.
They tell me they want it by pecking at the bucket I keep it in until I toss some out.
They have me trained.

For my horses, I feed it for coat quality & both my boys shine with minimal grooming.
The chickens have very glossy feathers too - the Black Stars and Houdan are iridescent! - so I am thinking it works the same for them.

 

[Miss Lydia]

What did people feed their laying hens back before there was laying ration?

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Leftovers and scratch or scratch grains. Some folks never fed their chickens at all and left it up to the chickens to find their own grub.