Not laying - what type of food?

[Ali123123123]

My lovely chickens are getting older and have stopped laying eggs. I have been giving them layer pellets. Is there a different pellet food that is better for them now that they aren’t laying?

Also, what protein content is best? I think 16% and 18% are the options at my shop.

Thanks so much!!

 

[Weeg]

I feed my chickens starter from hatch to death. I don't like layer for chickens anyway. Its not good for roosters, older hens, molting hens, broody hens, or hens not laying consistently. Its to much calcium which can cause issues in the long run.
With that in mind, feeding an All Flock, or Starter/grower should do it. The two are basically the same, Starter is just higher protein. I like higher protein since my chickens do a lot of foraging, and its good for molting, etc.

 

[Animal Export]

The BEST things to give them is grass, egg shells, and other veggies. if you dont give them EGG SHELLS they have a hard time laying eggs! CLUE #1!

 

[nuthatched]

The BEST things to give them is grass, egg shells, and other veggies. if you dont give them EGG SHELLS they have a hard time laying eggs! CLUE #1!

Almost but not quite, they best thing is a 17%-%20 protein formulated feed, with supplemented oyster shell or egg shell and treats ( fruits, veggies, mealworms, scraps etc) that don't make up more than 10% of their diet.

 

[nuthatched]

How old are they and could they be molting?

 

[Animal Export]

Almost but not quite, they best thing is a 17%-%20 protein formulated feed, with supplemented oyster shell or egg shell and treats ( fruits, veggies, mealworms, scraps etc) that don't make up more than 10% of their diet.

Nope alot of people tell me egg shells, Not Quite!

 

[nuthatched]

Nope alot of people tell me egg shells, Not Quite!

They need egg or oyster shell to help build egg shells but they need protein and a bit of fat to make eggs, also to make feathers and maintain their bodies. grass and veggies are usually low on both protein and fat. Your friends are misinformed. Generally, it would be better for you to learn from this website of peer reviewed information than take the word of anyone who crosses your path. :]

 

[U_Stormcrow]

The BEST things to give them is grass, egg shells, and other veggies. if you dont give them EGG SHELLS they have a hard time laying eggs! CLUE #1!

The best thing to feed them is a nutritionally complete feed. "grass and other veggies" is not nutritionally complete. Nor will feeding a chicken's eggshells back to it provide its complete calcium needs. There's a saying which begins, "Better to remain silent". [CLUE]

@Ali123123123 if you are trying to give your no longer laying hen a decent sunset and good feed in hopes of prolonging her time in this world, get her off the 16% layer with its likely 4% calcium. She doesn't need all that extra calcium anymore and the rest of the nutrition is borderline. She's old enough that improving feed quality honestly won't, in all likelihood, make any noticeable difference in her lifespan - but if you can find an 18% protein feed with only 1 to 1.5% calcium (so at least you arent accelerating problems commonly attributed to old age - like gout and renal issues) and hopefully higher levels of lysine and threonine than what's in the layer, you can sleep soundly, knowing you are offering her the best you can as she clucks her way into the sunset.

 

[Brooks_]

Nope alot of people tell me egg shells, Not Quite!

Their own egg shells will never be enough.

Last feeding.

 

[StinkyAcres]

@Ali123123123 How old are your hens?