Choosing the best feed for laying hens can be tricky if you don’t know what to look for. With so many varieties out there, it’s hard to figure out which one is right for your needs. This article will help clarify everything you need to know about chicken feeds and provide information on how to choose and use them correctly.
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Top 5 Chicken Feed for Laying Hens
1. Purina Layena
Last update on 2022-05-20
Layena is fortified with Lysine and Methionine that provide your birds the essential protein they need to grow strong and produce plenty of eggs. Layena includes high levels of Vitamin A, which will give life to a healthy adult bird; it also has Prebiotics, Probiotics, Yeast to support his digestive health. With Essential Amino Acids, he can develop beautiful feathers.
Pros:
- Includes a variety of vitamins and supplements
Cons:
- High price
2. Purina Layena+
Last update on 2022-05-20
Feel good about where you’re getting eggs from. Purina Layena+ is formulated to produce a large egg that contains 250mg of omega-3 fatty acids and supports hen health and consistent egg production. It has 16% protein and 3.50% calcium, which helps maintain hens’ health while also supporting their production of wholesome eggs with beautifully shining feathers. The added prebiotics and probiotics help support the immune system, providing your family with healthy eating all year long!
Pros:
- Omega-3
- Includes a variety of vitamins and supplements
Cons:
- High price
3. Prairie’s Choice Non-GMO Backyard Chicken Feed – Layer Formula
Last update on 2022-05-20
Feeding your hens the right stuff will help them grow up to lay eggs reliably. Prairie’s Choice offers a high-quality egg layer formula in compostable bags for you and your birds. The GroMax grains in our feed have been carefully selected to provide all of the necessary nutrients for healthy, productive layers so you can get eggs from pastured hens without spending a fortune on organic feed or breaking any rules about where they wander out there.
Pros:
- Contains a good mix of vitamins needed
- Non-GMO and non-chemically processed
Cons:
- Little more expensive compared to other brands
4. Manna Pro Layer Mini-Pellet
Last update on 2022-05-20
Manna Pro Layer Mini-Pellet gives you the nutrition and convenience of a complete feed in mini size. Thanks to being soy and wheat-free, this feed pairs great as all dairy layer flat mash pellets with molasses for protein, calcium, and marigolds that help your hens lay eggs full of quality nutrients. Keep them healthy so they can offer you fresh eggs!
Pros:
- Non-GMO and non-chemically processed
- Less expensive than most other laying hens feed
Cons:
- In the package found weevils
5. Manna Pro Layer Pellets for Laying Hens
Last update on 2022-05-20
Manna Pro Organic Layer Feed is the perfect feed for laying hens of any age. Easy to eat and digest, Manna Pro’s pellet form maximizes your biddies eating experience while making it easier on you!
It’s also USDA Organic and Non-GMO certified, giving you peace of mind that your beloved hens are getting the best quality they deserve. The added protein boost in Manna Pro will give your girls a nutritious experience you won’t find anywhere else and their eggs will be super tasty too!
Pros:
- Non-GMO
- Made with organic material
- No artificial colors or flavors
Cons:
- Big price
How to Choose the Best Chicken Feed for Laying Hens
The best feed for your chickens depends on several factors, including their age and breed. There are specific feeds out there that target the needs of different breeds at particular stages in a chicken’s life (i.e., starter or layer feed). Feeding the wrong type can affect growth, egg production, and overall health adversely.
Another key factor when determining which chicken feed would be best for your flock is their breed. Chickens come in several breeds with each having its own distinct size, weight, coloration, behavior, and eating habits. Breeds also have unique nutritional needs so it helps to do some research ahead of time on what they require nutritionally before feeding them anything at all!
What Nutrients do Laying Hens Require?
When it comes to laying hens, both their age and breed play a role in determining what nutrients they require. Laying hens that are young (one-year-old) will need more protein than older ones since they have higher energy needs during egg production. For example, one study found that broiler breed chickens needed about 24% crude protein (CP) while non-layers only required 18%. Older breeds don’t need as much protein but may still benefit from having access to feed with at least 16% CP for weight maintenance
Aside from the amount of protein, there is also an important amino acid called methionine which has been shown to be deficient in some chicken feeds. The nutrient profile should contain 0.35% methionine which is more than enough to meet laying hens’ requirements.
Methionine deficiency has been linked to metabolic disorders and poor reproduction performance so it’s important for farmers not only to provide correct feed but also to prevent deficiencies that can develop over time by rotating chicken feeds.
How Much Feed do Laying Hens Require?
A laying hen needs around 0.75 pounds of feed per dozen eggs laid, but the exact amount will vary depending on many factors including breed and production cycle.
Many farmers believe that feeding their hens too much or too little would have a negative impact on egg quality. The latter is true as if hens don’t get enough to eat they may lay smaller eggs with thin shells which are more likely to break during collection or storage whereas overfeeding can lead to excessive fat deposits in internal organs such as the liver, heart, and kidneys resulting in poor health condition.
So what’s the best chicken feed for laying hens? Farmer should focus on nutrition first (high-quality ingredients) before anything else because even the most expensive feeds won’t do any good if hens don’t have the right amount of protein, fat, and carbohydrates. Nutrition is important for every type of chicken but it’s particularly significant when you’re raising egg-laying breeds.
It’s also worth mentioning that there are some benefits in feeding laying hens with specially formulated feeds such as enriched layer feed which contains more calcium.
