proper nutrition for my young laying hens

[pnwmom]

How can I make sure that my young laying hens are getting proper nutrition? They are 4 months old and began laying about a week ago. I know that they need a lot of protein. I give them meal worms a couple of times a day (in fact, that's how I coax them back into their pen...ha!), but I'm not sure what else will provide protein. I feed them a good adult food from our local farm store and the eggs are awesome so far. Just want to make sure they continue to get what they need.

 

[eggbert420]

Laying pellets and oyster shell.

 

[Leigti]

I feed grower feed and oyster Shell on the side. That way they get more protein. It also makes it easier if you have different aged chickens. After eight weeks of age all my chickens get grower feed.

 

[Birdinhand]

taking a good look at the chickens and the eggs for signs of health will help you make sure you've got things dialed in. the eggs should have thick shells and the chickens should have vigor, a luster to their feathers and no worms in their droppings. if you are feeding an egg layer pellet and oyster shells, things should be good as long as they don't have parasites.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I feed half grower mash (fermented, to make sure they eat the protein rich fines) and half layer pellets, and haven't seen a need to supplement protein beyond a few mealworms as a treat. As long as you're feeding good quality, fresh feed, that should take care of most of their nutritional needs and keep them healthy.

 

[lazy gardener]

I feed grower feed and oyster Shell on the side. That way they get more protein. It also makes it easier if you have different aged chickens. After eight weeks of age all my chickens get grower feed.

Here, grower feed is ONLY 15% protein, so even less than layer. Buyer beware. Know the protein content of the feed you are buying. Also know the mill date, and ideally, the feed should be used up by the time it has been out of the mill x 6 weeks. To OP, either a layer pellet or crumble, or a multi flock (look for 18 - 20%). In either case, you can provide oyster shell or crushed egg shell on the side for free choice.

 

[pnwmom]

I feed half grower mash (fermented, to make sure they eat the protein rich fines) and half layer pellets, and haven't seen a need to supplement protein beyond a few mealworms as a treat. As long as you're feeding good quality, fresh feed, that should take care of most of their nutritional needs and keep them healthy.

Thank you. What is grower mash?

 

[pnwmom]

Laying pellets and oyster shell.

Thank you

 

[pnwmom]

I feed grower feed and oyster Shell on the side. That way they get more protein. It also makes it easier if you have different aged chickens. After eight weeks of age all my chickens get grower feed.

taking a good look at the chickens and the eggs for signs of health will help you make sure you've got things dialed in. the eggs should have thick shells and the chickens should have vigor, a luster to their feathers and no worms in their droppings. if you are feeding an egg layer pellet and oyster shells, things should be good as long as they don't have parasites.

thank you....very helpful!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thank you. What is grower mash?

Grower is in between chick and layer/adult feed, it generally has less protein than chick but more than layer, and no calcium. "All flock" would be a similar sort of feed.

Mash is feed made of grains which can be whole or broken down and and may contain "fines" which are powdered proteins, vitamins, etc. Unlike crumbles or pellets it's a loose feed (think of something like wild bird seed) where the ingredients aren't ground and pressed together to form a pellet shape.