What to feed chickens to lay more eggs.

[Kikiriki]

My girls love a quality wild bird seed and suet. I get about 10 eggs a day from 13 hens. Summer and Winter.

I mix bird seed with steamed rolled oats, plus ranging in the yard for forage and bugs. My chickens have never been sick, lay at high production frequency, have perfectly shaped, large, hard shelled eggs, and they have very consistent texture of manure that is not stinky: I ran out of food once, and the hubby brought home scrambles because the feed store was out of oats (late delivery). The chicken poo stunk, and I mean it really reeked!! Could not clean out the coop fast enough!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

CHOPS= Cracked Corn

We raise Ameraucanas, Silkies, Waterfowl and in our egg production field we have 25 ISA browns, 10 Plymouth Rocks, 12 RIR and 5 Cochins.

Our main feed is Hubbard KTA Gamebird Breeder 22%. It runs $12 per 50# bag....Everyday each yard gets a bowl or two of porridge... That is mainly the gamebird ration with some kelp meal, probiotic powder, ACV and BOSS mixed in....In the winter time this mixture gets some Nurse All powdered mil feed added for the additional fat and protein. In the winter they get a treat of scrambled eggs with alfalfa/ timothy pellets soaked and some jack mackerel mixed in 3-4 times per week. In the summer they are on pastures during the day and get worms at bedtime.
They get fresh water 2-3 times daily, and two days a week we add a dash of red cell to the water.....The production yard seem to produce an egg per bird per day with exception to August and September. The Waterfowl, Silkies and Ameraucanas are either all in or all out.

Also each house has a very small low watt light that is on from dusk til dawn. Our houses all have monitors in them, and if the birds get upset by something I can go into their houses without tripping over something or meeting a varmint in the dark....
Thats what works for us here in middle TN....

Your set-up sounds nice!

Currently I'm feeding Fermented feed, with green powder, some minerals that come in a powder, organic brewers yeast, cayenne pepper, and sometimes cod liver oil. Everyone LOVES this mix. I'm averaging 8-12 eggs daily for the ducks, just about an egg every other day from the geese, and about 5-7 eggs from the chickens.

I'm also working on sprouting and growing fodder for everyone. I ran out of whole grains, but usually I mix whole barely, whole oats, BOSS, and whole wheat in everyone feed. I fermented some whole oats and everyone went bonkers over it. I wish I would have found out about the fermented feed sooner. I'm seeing excellent egg production, no signs of illness, and lots of weight gain. Whereas with the dry pellets/chick starter I went through a lot more feed than I am now, and I had skinny/ill birds. I'm never going back to the dry feed.

I also have several lights in my building, so everyone is getting extra 'daylight' hours.

~ Aspen

 

[Eggs in a Jar]

I have read that too much protein can lead to kidney failure. Has anyone else read this? Can't quote where I read it. High protein may be good for the short term production of eggs but possibly cause long term damage to the hen. That being said...mine do get extra protein with things like eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, sardines and occasional scraps of meat etc. They LOVE all of that.

 

[Angel16]

Currently I'm feeding Fermented feed, with green powder, some minerals that come in a powder, organic brewers yeast, cayenne pepper, and sometimes cod liver oil. Everyone LOVES this mix. I'm averaging 8-12 eggs daily for the ducks, just about an egg every other day from the geese, and about 5-7 eggs from the chickens.

I'm also working on sprouting and growing fodder for everyone. I ran out of whole grains, but usually I mix whole barely, whole oats, BOSS, and whole wheat in everyone feed. I fermented some whole oats and everyone went bonkers over it. I wish I would have found out about the fermented feed sooner. I'm seeing excellent egg production, no signs of illness, and lots of weight gain. Whereas with the dry pellets/chick starter I went through a lot more feed than I am now, and I had skinny/ill birds. I'm never going back to the dry feed.

I also have several lights in my building, so everyone is getting extra 'daylight' hours.

~ Aspen

HI, i wanted to know what Fermented feed was??

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

HI, i wanted to know what Fermented feed was??

>>>>> https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/644300/fermenting-feed-for-meat-birds/4690#post_10561886 Check out this link<<<<<

Pretty much it's water, Apple Cider Vinegar with the 'mother' in it, and grain and or your normal layer pellet/chick starter. It ferments the feed, which makes it easier for digestion, it ups the protein by 12%, keeps their intestines nice and cleaned out, the ACV is a natural de-wormer, and lots of other stuff.

Check it out. : )

~ Aspen

 

[Angel16]

thanks i have apple cider vineger and will feed it to them ( when i get them next week!) also how exactly do i make it? i've never done this before!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

thanks i have apple cider vineger and will feed it to them ( when i get them next week!) also how exactly do i make it? i've never done this before!

A lot of people put ACV in their water, and food (the birds..). Go to the first page of the FF link and read about it.

I add a couple glugs of ACV to my two 5 gal. buckets that I'm fermented in. Usually about 1 tablespoon per gallon, I think is what it is, if you are putting it in their water.

Make sure you buy the ACV that has the 'mother' in it, and not the junk that is pasteurized to death. Heinz carries ACV that has the mother in it.

~ Aspen

 

[Dagirls]

Rape is the unopened flower shoot on garlic plants. They are wonderful steamed or bar-b-cued! I would steal them from your chickens if I was there!

Thanks so I imagine it would be good foor the hens too

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Rape is the unopened flower shoot on garlic plants. They are wonderful steamed or bar-b-cued! I would steal them from your chickens if I was there!

You mean garlic scape? Rape greens are a brassica.

 

[Angel16]

A lot of people put ACV in their water, and food (the birds..). Go to the first page of the FF link and read about it.

I add a couple glugs of ACV to my two 5 gal. buckets that I'm fermented in. Usually about 1 tablespoon per gallon, I think is what it is, if you are putting it in their water.

Make sure you buy the ACV that has the 'mother' in it, and not the junk that is pasteurized to death. Heinz carries ACV that has the mother in it.

~ Aspen

thanks! will do!