What should I feed my hens when they’re laying?

[bumblychicken]

Hi! My chickens are currently 3 weeks old but when they are to start transitioning off their medicated chick feed I would like to know some good brands of what to feed them. I’m really conflicted between either giving them a layer feed or swapping to an unmedicated chick feed or an all flock feed and supplement oyster shells.

Egg production is not a priority for me, I just want what will help them get all they need

 

[nuthatched]

All flock feed with oyster shells or a nice 18% layer after they hit 18 weeks.
Why are you conflicted, do you have questions?

 

[bumblychicken]

At the moment I have them on this and it says to use it up to 15 weeks

But as for layer feed, I’ve heard from some people that it isn’t the best since it’s low on protein and/or people have issues with the calcium?

The brand I have their chick feed with “Horizon Acres” has an all flock feed but it’s 20% and I’ve heard that too much protein could be bad?

I’ve seen some people swap to unmedicated chick feed or a grower feed and keep their chickens on that for life with the oyster shells supplement

I’m conflicted since I don’t have a confident answer for what brand or kind to get at the moment

 

[TooCheep]

20% is a fine level of protein. 16% protein which is common in layer feed is the minimum level and in some cases actually end up not being enough if your birds also eat a lot of low-protein treats. Additional protein helps with growth (which is why chick feed is higher protein), feather regrowth (after molting) and general health.

As for the quality of that specific brand of feed, it is hard to say. There are so many brands that are regional or local only. I looked up Horizon Acres online and they didn't show any nutritional data which is very important. If you could get pictures of the nutrition info for the types of feed you are considering, that would help.

FYI- Unmedicated chick feed, grower feed and all-flock are virtually the same. They are all higher protein, low calcium blends. The biggest difference are that the first two are virtually always crumbles to feed smaller birds. The latter is usually pellets for adult birds.

I originally used layer feed, but it became untenable after a while. Switching to "feather fixer" (another high-protein, low calcium blend) for winter molts and back to layer in early spring was a hassle. Then, when I brought in a new generation of chickens and they were at different stages of life and had different laying schedules was confusing. Elderly hens lay less often- do they need the same amount of calcium? Finally, if you have roosters then layer formula is just not the right answer at all.

I ended up switching to all-flock + calcium (oyster shell+egg shells) on the side and once new chickens graduate from chick feed, they stay on this feeding regimen for the rest of their lives. They regulate their own calcium intake naturally. Easy peasy.

-----

Edit: Found the nutrition info. It was pretty well hidden. The Horizon Acres all-flock is pretty comparable to the Nutrena Naturewise all-flock that I use. One number did shock me. Usually, you see ~1% calcium for low-calcium blends and ~4% calcium for layer blends to support egg production. HA all-flock has 3% calcium. That is odd.

 

[bumblychicken]

20% is a fine level of protein. 16% protein which is common in layer feed is the minimum level and in some cases actually end up not being enough if your birds also eat a lot of low-protein treats. Additional protein helps with growth (which is why chick feed is higher protein), feather regrowth (after molting) and general health.

As for the quality of that specific brand of feed, it is hard to say. There are so many brands that are regional or local only. I looked up Horizon Acres online and they didn't show any nutritional data which is very important. If you could get pictures of the nutrition info for the types of feed you are considering, that would help.

FYI- Unmedicated chick feed, grower feed and all-flock are virtually the same. They are all higher protein, low calcium blends. The biggest difference are that the first two are virtually always crumbles to feed smaller birds. The latter is usually pellets for adult birds.

I originally used layer feed, but it became untenable after a while. Switching to "feather fixer" (another high-protein, low calcium blend) for winter molts and back to layer in early spring was a hassle. Then, when I brought in a new generation of chickens and they were at different stages of life and had different laying schedules was confusing. Elderly hens lay less often- do they need the same amount of calcium? Finally, if you have roosters then layer formula is just not the right answer at all.

I ended up switching to all-flock + calcium (oyster shell+egg shells) on the side and once new chickens graduate from chick feed, they stay on this feeding regimen for the rest of their lives. They regulate their own calcium intake naturally. Easy peasy.

-----

Edit: Found the nutrition info. It was pretty well hidden. The Horizon Acres all-flock is pretty comparable to the Nutrena Naturewise all-flock that I use. One number did shock me. Usually, you see ~1% calcium for low-calcium blends and ~4% calcium for layer blends to support egg production. HA all-flock has 3% calcium. That is odd.

All this info is super helpful thank you so much! I will look and see where I can get the Nutrena feed near me!

And interesting about HA’s All Flock feed that’s good to know too.

 

[FrostRanger]

At the moment I have them on this and it says to use it up to 15 weeks

But as for layer feed, I’ve heard from some people that it isn’t the best since it’s low on protein and/or people have issues with the calcium?

The brand I have their chick feed with “Horizon Acres” has an all flock feed but it’s 20% and I’ve heard that too much protein could be bad?

I’ve seen some people swap to unmedicated chick feed or a grower feed and keep their chickens on that for life with the oyster shells supplement

I’m conflicted since I don’t have a confident answer for what brand or kind to get at the moment

It's not until you start getting around 30% that you have to start worrying about too much protein, 20% is well within safe limits. I also agree with all flock all the time + oyster shell on the side. It's the simplest solution and means you don't have to switch around feeds. Pretty much any brand is fine as long as the nutrion profile is solid (although I myself love kalmbach's flock raiser pellets for my girls)

 

[bumblychicken]

It's not until you start getting around 30% that you have to start worrying about too much protein, 20% is well within safe limits. I also agree with all flock all the time + oyster shell on the side. It's the simplest solution and means you don't have to switch around feeds. Pretty much any brand is fine as long as the nutrion profile is solid (although I myself love kalmbach's flock raiser pellets for my girls)

Ooo okay! I’ll keep this brand in mind too when I got to the store and see what they have

 

[Ridgerunner]

Layer feed was developed to provide all that they need if they are laying eggs and the Layer feed is all that they eat. If they get treats or forage for some of their food then Layer is not all that they eat so their diet might become nutritionally unbalanced. The main concern there is calcium which is needed for the eggshells. So that is one consideration, are they only eating the chicken feed or are they getting other food.

Chickens not laying do not need that much calcium in their diet. That might be roosters, juveniles, broody hens, or molting hens. Over time the large amounts of calcium in Layer can be harmful.

Many of us have flocks that contain chickens that are not laying so Layer is not the best choice. I don't know your flock make-up.

Many of us solve these issues by feeding them a low calcium feed that contains the basic nutrition they need and offer oyster shell or some other form of calcium supplement on the side.

But as for layer feed, I’ve heard from some people that it isn’t the best since it’s low on protein

A lot of Layer feed is 16% protein. That's because the hybrid commercial laying chickens don't need a higher protein. They have been bred to have a small body so they don't need a lot of protein to maintain that small body. They have been bred to lay a larger egg compared to their body size. Feeding them a higher protein content can lead to medical problems.

Maybe this will help. Cornish Cross have been highly bred to pack on lot of meat quickly and efficiently but they need to be fed and managed certain ways or they can become unhealthy. The commercial laying hybrids have been just as specially bred to provide eggs efficiently. They have to be fed and managed certain ways or they can become unhealthy.

Our chickens are generally not the commercial hybrids. They have not been so highly bred that some more protein hurts them. Furnishing more protein can help them grow bigger bodies. A lot of people like their chickens to have bigger bodies. 18% or 20% protein does not hurt them.

The brand I have their chick feed with “Horizon Acres” has an all flock feed but it’s 20% and I’ve heard that too much protein could be bad?

Not for the breeds we have in our backyard flocks. For commercial hybrid layers it could be.

I’m conflicted since I don’t have a confident answer for what brand or kind to get at the moment

What brands are available at your feed store? If you look at the analysis for similar types of feed they should be pretty close. The analysis shows the different nutrients like fiber, salt, protein, calcium, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. A chick feed should have the same basic nutrient make-up regardless of brand as long aas it is chick feed. The big difference is probably ingredients. Some people don't like, corn, soy, or something else so they look for different, possibly more expensive, ingredients. As far as I'm concerned as long as the analysis is OK I'm OK with it. Others have different criteria.

When I first got my dogs I asked the veterinarian a similar question. What feeds to get. He said that any of the age appropriate major brands would provide the nutrition they need. I feel the same way about chicken feed but since backyard chickens have become so trendy a lot of people are now providing feed that may not meet their nutritional needs. So I look at the analysis to see that it has what I want.

I don't know what your flock make-up is, but if you feed them a feed with between 16% and 20% protein and is low calcium while offering oyster shell on the side you should be covered. Keep it as simple as you can.

 

[bumblychicken]

Layer feed was developed to provide all that they need if they are laying eggs and the Layer feed is all that they eat. If they get treats or forage for some of their food then Layer is not all that they eat so their diet might become nutritionally unbalanced. The main concern there is calcium which is needed for the eggshells. So that is one consideration, are they only eating the chicken feed or are they getting other food.

Chickens not laying do not need that much calcium in their diet. That might be roosters, juveniles, broody hens, or molting hens. Over time the large amounts of calcium in Layer can be harmful.

Many of us have flocks that contain chickens that are not laying so Layer is not the best choice. I don't know your flock make-up.

Many of us solve these issues by feeding them a low calcium feed that contains the basic nutrition they need and offer oyster shell or some other form of calcium supplement on the side.


A lot of Layer feed is 16% protein. That's because the hybrid commercial laying chickens don't need a higher protein. They have been bred to have a small body so they don't need a lot of protein to maintain that small body. They have been bred to lay a larger egg compared to their body size. Feeding them a higher protein content can lead to medical problems.

Maybe this will help. Cornish Cross have been highly bred to pack on lot of meat quickly and efficiently but they need to be fed and managed certain ways or they can become unhealthy. The commercial laying hybrids have been just as specially bred to provide eggs efficiently. They have to be fed and managed certain ways or they can become unhealthy.

Our chickens are generally not the commercial hybrids. They have not been so highly bred that some more protein hurts them. Furnishing more protein can help them grow bigger bodies. A lot of people like their chickens to have bigger bodies. 18% or 20% protein does not hurt them.


Not for the breeds we have in our backyard flocks. For commercial hybrid layers it could be.


What brands are available at your feed store? If you look at the analysis for similar types of feed they should be pretty close. The analysis shows the different nutrients like fiber, salt, protein, calcium, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. A chick feed should have the same basic nutrient make-up regardless of brand as long aas it is chick feed. The big difference is probably ingredients. Some people don't like, corn, soy, or something else so they look for different, possibly more expensive, ingredients. As far as I'm concerned as long as the analysis is OK I'm OK with it. Others have different criteria.

When I first got my dogs I asked the veterinarian a similar question. What feeds to get. He said that any of the age appropriate major brands would provide the nutrition they need. I feel the same way about chicken feed but since backyard chickens have become so trendy a lot of people are now providing feed that may not meet their nutritional needs. So I look at the analysis to see that it has what I want.

I don't know what your flock make-up is, but if you feed them a feed with between 16% and 20% protein and is low calcium while offering oyster shell on the side you should be covered. Keep it as simple as you can.

This was really informative thank you so much for taking the time to write this it means a lot!