What Do You Feed Your Laying Hens and Why?

[TheEggCollecter]

Nutrena or Agway Layer Pellets in the summer. In the winter layer pellets mixed with cracked corn. Oyster shells or grit ALWAYS available.

 

[FarmalI]

What is wrong with GMO's?

 

[lularat]

There hasn't been enough research on how GMO's affect humans, nor animals. So I opt to stay away from them as much as I can.

 

[FarmalI]

I know im just a college student with an Agriculture major, but what we have studied is that in the strictest sense almost everything is a Genetically modified organism.

 

[lularat]

I know im just a college student with an Agriculture major, but what we have studied is that in the strictest sense almost everything is a Genetically modified organism.

I have read that 70% of food is genetically modified. Manufacturers are getting better about labeling, but most foods aren't labeled.

 

[DCchicken]

I was feeding Purina and switched to Blue Seal. They eat much less with it which is usually a good sign that it is higher quality feed.

 

[donrae]

I feed an all-in-one feed milled by my local Grange Co-op. I think it's around 20% protein, with the lower calcium level. I believe it has animal protein. I feed this because

it's local. The mill is a mile from my office
its easy. My entire flock eats the same thing, no matter age or gender. If I'm brooding a large batch of chicks I might buy some starter, but if I just have a broody hatch out a few chicks, they all eat this feed.


I also give my flock all kitchen scraps, garden scraps, etc. This includes egg shells. I grow Swiss chard for them to eat during the winter. If I notice thin shells, I toss oyster shell in the run to boost calcium.

 

[Aacre]

I feed layer's mash that my local ag center mixes up. It's actually more powdery than crumbles or pellets. Love it because you can actually see what's ground up in it! They also free range and usually have hay available to pick at, along with kitchen scraps, and to supplement the layer's mash, I crush egg shells and give it back to them. In the afternoons, they get a snack, right now, they've been getting either cracked corn or oatmeal. Some times both!

I've actually been thinking of switching to an all flock raiser feed and providing oyster shell for the girls. They can self regulate the calcium, and also, flock raiser usually has more protein than layer's mash. I want an all purpose feed because I recently got ducklings, and once they are off baby foods, I want to make it easier on myself and them by giving them something everyone can eat! I'm still looking into it and will talk to the guys at my ag center to get their input.