Ensuring your chickens get the nutrition they need

Layers Poultry Feed

The main requirement of productive laying hens is a good quality layers feed.  This can come in the form of layers pellets or layers crumb/mash.  Layers feed is formulated by the feed mills to be a complete source of nutrition for your hens.   A supply of this should be kept to laying hens at all times and not rationed.  Hens will only eat what they need and are not glutens, if they are able to eat what they need then your hens will be happier, healthier and therefore more productive.

Poultry Feeder

The best method for feeding hens is in a purpose designed poultry feeder.  This type of feeder allows the food to be kept clean, dry and minimises wastage.  Keeping the feed dry is very important as if it gets wet it will go mouldy quickly and becoming unpalatable to your hens.

Depending on the design of your poultry coop or house it may be a good idea to keep the feeder inside the house.  This helps to prevent the attraction of wild birds to the feeder and also will help to prevent vermin getting attracted to spilt food in an outside feeding area.

What else can be fed to chickens?

Hens in a free range environment are pretty clever and generally know what to eat and what not to eat, so we don’t really need to worry about them when left to their own devices.

They will enjoy greens if in a more confined environment such as cabbages and lettuces, which can be suspended on a string or rope whole for them to peck at. 

To be avoided are uncooked vegetable peelings, as these can lead to a blockage in birds crops.  If they are cooked and chopped up well they are more suitable, again in moderation.

Grains can be fed to hens, but this is best fed in mid-afternoon as a scratch feed, that is by sprinkling a little on the floor of the run for your hens to eat.  We find oats a favourite of hens during the laying season, but in winter change this to wheat which helps to keep the hens warm.

Other Supplements

Grit is important, although not always a requirement with layers pellets; in fact some layers pellets can contain grit.  If hens are free ranging they typically can find the grit they need, however if they are confined they may not be able to find a sufficient amount so providing a supplementary grit would be a good idea.  Other than grit no other supplements are required by healthy hens in or experience.

Not all poultry keepers feed layers

It is important to note that some keepers of poultry do not feed layers pellets.  This can be down to cost or experienced of a seasoned poultry keeper. 

Layers pellets is a safe and easy way to ensure your hens get the nutrition they require and will help to ensure you get lots of healthy eggs from the hens in your garden each morning!

You can check out the various types of hens we keep by clicking on the following links - Large Fowl Pure Breeds, Bantam Pure Breeds and Hybrid Laying Hens.