If you’ve arrived at this page, you’re likely a farmer trying to figure out what to feed their hens to get them to lay eggs.
I can imagine how aggravating that would be.
But you’ve just come across the perfect item to address that question and more.
One of the reasons why farmers keep hens is for their eggs, which is no longer news.
And it might be aggravating if these egg-laying companions don’t live up to your expectations.
But, when you think about it, the feed that the chickens eat plays a huge role in their egg production.
We’ve highlighted the best diet to feed your hens to get them to lay eggs in this article.
We’ve also outlined what you should feed your chickens, from chicks to egg-laying hens.
Continue reading if that’s what you’re looking for!!!
In the meantime, you might want to learn how to produce your organic chicken feed.
At what age do hens begin to lay eggs?
When it comes to laying eggs, different breeds of chicken start at different ages.
As a result, it’s not unreasonable to assume that all chickens lay eggs on their schedule.
Some begin laying as early as 16 weeks, while others continue for up to 32 weeks.
Is there a special feed that layers need to lay eggs?
Absolutely!
That’s why your hens aren’t laying any more eggs.
A sort of feed is required for every stage of a chicken’s life; otherwise, they would not develop and mature properly.
We specifically highlighted the type of feed chicks eat regardless of breed in our article What do chickens eat.
Read also: List Of Poultry Farming Equipment And Their Use – A Comprehensive Guide
However, you may learn more about what these birds require at each stage by reading on.
In terms of the layers, if you feed them the appropriate kind of layer feed, they will lay more eggs.
Feeding Chickens to Get Them to Lay Eggs
From chicks to egg-laying hens, here’s what you should feed your chickens.
What do you do when you get the hens (ideally one of the top chicken breeds for eggs)?
You’ll need to settle them in and put your poultry business strategy into action once you have the right poultry farm equipment.
Do you just start feeding them anything?
Don’t even consider it!!!
Your new chickens will require a specific type of feed.
As they develop, the feeding pack and plan will have to adapt as well.
Read also: Poultry Farming In Nigeria
What you feed the chickens when they’re young will determine whether or not they lay eggs.
Let’s see which feeds are the greatest for your chickens based on their age.
Starter feed for newborn chicks aged 0 to 8 weeks
Feed the chicks the beginning feed when they arrive.
And then continue until they’re about eight weeks old.
Starter meals aid in the establishment and maintenance of the chicks’ bone health and immunity.
Also, it wouldn’t take long for them to transition from chicks to pullets with this method.
Proteins, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals should all be included in a healthy starting feed.
This is what you should feed your hens right now to get them to lay eggs later on.
Grower feed for pullets aged 8 to 16 weeks
You can now call the hens pullets once they’ve reached the age of eight weeks.
And they require a change in diet in this regard.
That’s the grower feed if you’re wondering what to feed the hens at this point to get them ready to lay eggs in the long term.
The grower feed aids in the healthy development of the pullets.
The protein level of a good grower feed should be modest.
Calcium levels should also be fewer than 1.25 percent.
It should also include omega-3 fatty acids and other critical elements to aid digestion and overall health.
Layer Feed For Hens 16+ Weeks
Your chickens have progressed to the point where they are laying eggs regularly.
Egg-laying will be hampered or delayed if grower feeds are not available consistently.
Take a look at some of the reasons why your chickens haven’t started laying eggs yet.
You should also find out when chickens begin laying eggs regularly.
What do you feed your hens to get them to lay eggs, aside from that?
Here’s the deal!!!
The calcium and protein level of the feed you feed your flocks should be high.
This will aid in the production of robust and healthy eggs.
Because most chicken breeds begin laying at 16 weeks, we recommend switching to the layer feed.
Please keep in mind that if you’re looking for meat from the flock, their feed should have more protein.
Whether the chickens lay giant eggs or not, you’ll get some fairly decent big eggs with this smart feeding.
Feeding your chickens treats that will encourage them to lay more eggs
We know that the above-mentioned strategic feeding is sufficient to encourage the chickens to lay eggs.
Another technique to feed the flock is to supplement their nutrition.
Consider the following delights as supplements when deciding what to feed your chickens to get them to lay eggs:
Greens\Mealworms
Cracked Corn Scratch Grains
Eggs Scrambled
Seeds of Sunflower
Eggs and Eggshells from Japanese Beetles
Fruit and Watermelon
16-in-1 16-in-1 16-in-1 16-in-1 16-in-1 16
What nutrition should I feed my chickens for them to lay eggs?
For the birds to lay enough eggs, they need a proper diet.
You must feed the chickens a well-balanced diet to maintain proper nourishment.
A decent layer feed should include the following ingredients:
Protein aids in the maintenance of energy levels. The protein content of the meal should be between 16 and 20%.
Omega-3 fatty acids are essential for more healthy eggs.
Prebiotics help to strengthen the immune system.
Probiotics are beneficial to the digestive system.
Calcium is necessary for the formation of strong shells and bones.
Magnesium is necessary for the strength of shells and bones.
If the chickens are fed a diet rich in essential nutrients, they will not only develop healthier but will also lay more eggs.
When deciding what to feed chickens to get them to lay eggs, make sure the feeds contain the nutrients listed above in the proper proportions.
Does the environment have an impact on egg-laying in chickens?
Yes, it does a lot.
If the chickens are not comfortable, they may not lay as many eggs. Especially if there are too many chickens.
Here’s how to set up the right environment for healthy laying hens:
1. Maintain a healthy coop: In an unhealthy coop, the birds are more susceptible to pests, bacteria, and chicken diseases.
As a result, they will contaminate their food, causing the birds to become ill and lowering egg production.
2. Avoid Overcrowding: Chickens in overcrowded pens are less likely to lay eggs.
In the deep litter poultry housing system, these birds will have to fight for everything.
As a result, whatever you feed the hens to get them to lay eggs may never be enough.
In this regard, we recommend 0.4 square meters per hen for free-range poultry and 1 square meter per hen for confined birds.
3. Clean the coop regularly: Having a healthy coop is a great start. However, you must keep the coop healthy by deep-cleaning it once or twice a month.
Clean up any filth and clean the area using a bird-safe disinfectant spray.
A nice spray is diluted white vinegar.
4. Allow the chickens to roam occasionally: To provide a comfortable environment for the birds, allow them to roam for a couple of hours each day.
Ensure that they are safe from any potential predators while doing so.
Conclusion
What you feed your birds will impact whether or not they lay eggs.
Keep in mind that garbage in, garbage out!
You will not only get eggs, but you will get highly nutritious eggs if you follow the recommendations we provided on what to feed your chickens to get them to lay eggs.
That’s a win-win situation for all farmers!!!
Best wishes.
