⠀ Only feeding laying pellets

[Mrsrio]

I used to feed hen scratch all year in Texas and was told that it was too hot a feed to use all year long. Now I am weaning them off feeding 95 percent laying pellets. They do not seem to be happy and act like they are starving! They keep trying to get all the scratch small quantity first and eat like piharanas! Is there any other grain besides laying pellets I could give them without harming them?

 

[JetCat]

you are offering the feed free choice (it's there for them 24/7 any time they want to eat)??

 

[DrPatrickBiggs]

I would recommend that you continue to feed the birds a layer pellet year-round. That feed is going to contain the proper nutrition to keep those hens healthy and in egg production for longer periods of time. Scratch grains are high in energy and low in most other nutrients that a hen needs to maintain a healthy body weight and egg production. Think of it like eating a diet of candy all the time. It tastes great, but it doesn't keep you full for very long and it leads to over-eating and excess weight gain. In addition to that, scratch grains do not contain a supply of vitamins and minerals that are sufficient to support the needs of the animal. Your hens may act like they are starving, but it is for their own health and well-being that they remain on a layer feed.

 

[Mrsrio]

yes food is always available to them

 

[Mrsrio]

yes food is always available to them

Thanks