Have your chickens suddenly stopped laying eggs and you are wondering what could be the reason?
Get the best chicken feeds for laying chickens and you will be surprised with the instant change.
One main reason among many why your chickens have suddenly lowered eggs production is the diet you are feeding them which lacks proteins. It could be for some reasons you have changed what you were feeding them before.
There are many brands in the market with attracting packages that might confuse you in making the right decision when searching for the best chicken feeds for layers.
Going through these reviews of the best feeds for chicken layers will simplify your search and ease your headache. There is also a guide on how to choose the best of the many feeds in the market including knowing the best ingredients.
Top 6 Best Chicken Feeds for Laying Chickens
|
Product Name |
Capacity (Pounds) |
Form of Feed |
Editor’s Rating |
|
Scratch and Peck Feed |
25 |
Raw whole grain |
4.4* |
|
Brown’s Layer Booster |
20 |
Pellets |
4.0* |
|
Amazingly Tasty Chicken |
20 |
Whole grain/seeds, mini protein pellets |
4.0* |
| Small Pet Select |
25 |
Pellets |
4.3* |
|
Kalmbach Feeds All Natural |
50 |
Crumble |
3.7* |
|
Kaytee |
25 |
Mash |
3.7* |
#1 (Editor’s Choice) Scratch and Peck Feed
This chicken feed is USDA certified to be organic and also non-GMO project verified. As you know any food that is non-GMO project verified is safe and free from chemicals. Therefore you can be sure that Scratch and Peck Feed is safe for your chickens.
The feed does not contain soy or corn as most feeds will include these two inexpensive ingredients which have excess protein to add content to the feed.
The chicken layers need protein for high egg production. However, excessive protein can be fatal to your chickens by causing liver failure because of difficulties in digesting the extra protein.
With Scratch and Peck, you are assured that there are no allergens ingredients included in the feed.
This feed does not contain processed ingredients but rather what is in the feed is raw and unprocessed whole grain CONSistently milled.
Scratch and Peck feed is the best chicken feed for layers in the market.
It has balanced its nutrients including calcium, mineral, vitamins, and others to be sure you are feeding your flocks the vital nutrients.
The feed is best for chickens with the age of over 20 weeks or more and most suitable for layers chickens.
The package contains 25 pounds of feed sufficient to last for an extended period.
PROS
- USDA certified
- GMO-free and certified
- Contains calcium
- Sufficient feed containing 25-pounds
CONS
- The chicken feed is pricey
#2 Brown’s Layer Booster Daily Diet Chicken Feed
Brown’s Layer Booster is ideal for layers, and it has all the nutrients that laying chickens would require.
Well balanced nutrients with 16% proteins, enough calcium for egg production, and many other different vitamins. Since the food is for adult chickens, it is not recommended to feed the young chicks less than 12 weeks of age. The feed does not contain animal protein or fats but rich in plant proteins.
Apart from feeding laying chickens with the proper nutrients to increase productivity, the eggs are also fortified with minerals, calcium, and vitamins to boost nutrients. The fortified ingredients are also responsible for strong eggshells.
The value for this feed is beyond its price tag because of the ingredients that boost the better growth of the layers, eggs productivity, and abundant nutrients in the eggs.
PROS
- Boosts eggs production
- No animal fat or animal proteins
- Fortified with calcium, minerals, and vitamins
- Helps in chickens growth
- Boosts strong eggshells
CONS
- Not daily feed but a booster
#3 Amazingly Tasty Chicken Layer Feed
This feed for chicken layers is ideal when they are beginning their egg laying and for throughout their laying life.
It contains a special blend of non-GMO grains and seeds that contain plants proteins. The feed also contains mini-pellets for chickens feeding enjoyment.
Due to the risk of feeds losing essential nutrients from extended storage, Amazing Tasty feeds are freshly made after every other week to ensure the chickens have fresh feeds.
The feed has added organic fertrell poultry nutri-balancer vitamins and minerals for healthy layers and the eggs as well just like free-range eggs. The variety of ingredients in this feed does not only add nutrients but boosts the taste to encourage the chickens enough feeding.
Amazingly Tasty feeds for laying chickens with complete nutrients ratio and balance by adding 19% of protein and calcium from oyster shells. The Roasted milo in the feed is the reason for the crunchy roast popcorn taste for maximum absorption of nutrients and great feeding.
PROS
- Contains roasted milo for maximum nutrients absorption
- 19% of protein and oyster shells calcium
- Blends non-GMO grains and seeds
- Contains mini-pellets for snacks
- Roasted milo for amazingly tasting in the feed
- Freshly made every other week
CONS
- The feed is fine for chickens resulting in powdery waste
#4 Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed
Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed is a product that contains all the nutrients necessary for the growth of the chicken and stimulates it to lay eggs naturally and safely.
This product is made from fresh natural ingredients such as peas, sunflower, oats, wheat and some other nuts. Besides, it also contains many nutrients such as Omega-3, protein and calcium. So you don’t need to feed the chicken separately.
Small Pet Select Chicken Layer Feed does not contain corn, Soy and GMO so the product is confident to ensure the safety and naturally develop for your chickens. It is also made to fit the chicken’s digestive system so you don’t need to worry.
To preserve the product for a long time, you should store it in a cool place, avoid direct sunlight. And do not forget to close the bag after use to ensure the quality of the product.
PROS
- Natural ingredients
- Good price
- Added Omega-3, protein and calcium
- Non-GMO, corn-free and soy-free
CONS
- The grain size seems to be a bit too large for some hens
#5 Kalmbach Feeds All Natural Layer Crumble 50lb
Kalmbach is all-natural layer feed formulated for layers with 100% animal free proteins and fats. It is also 100% hormones and antibiotics free.
The feed contains a blend of probiotics, prebiotics, and enzymes to boost immunity, support health and digestion.
Kalmbach is manufactured with CONSistency crumbles which chickens enjoy, encouraging them to feed to their fill without leaving powdery wastage.
The feed has been added amino acids which help in removing chicken body toxins. All the ingredients in the feed are chemical free making it safe for your chickens.
All natural combined organic ingredients that make up Kalmbach are of high balanced nutrients for healthy chickens and healthy strong shelled-eggs.
PROS
- 100% free from animal products
- 100% free from hormones and antibiotics
- Contains probiotics and prebiotics for enzymes and easy digestion
- Crumble CONSistency without powdery wastage
CONS
- Exorbitant price
#6 Kaytee Laying Hen Feed
Kaytee feed for laying eggs is 16% protein for boosting egg production and rich in probiotics for eliminating toxins and supporting digestive health in chickens.
The feed has a combination of flax seeds for omega-3 in the eggs, calcium for strong egg shells, marigold extract for rich yellow/orange colored egg yolk.
Kaytee Laying Hen Diet is right for vegetarian diet since it doesn’t contain animal proteins and fats but rich in plant protein. The care to balance nutrients in this feed is the result of healthy chickens with high nutrients value in eggs.
The feed is a fermented product for aiding digestion in your chickens. It is, therefore, not ideal for newly hatched chicks.
All the feeds are adequately sealed and in air-tight packaging and you should ensure that you seal the package properly to prevent pests’ infestation.
PROS
- Well balanced protein and calcium for egg productivity
- Probiotics for boosting digestion
- Proper nutrients combination for healthy chickens and quality eggs
- No animal protein and fats
- Added flax seeds for omega-3
- High colored egg yolk
CONS
- Large pieces of pellets
Buyer’s Guide
Chicken feeding has evolved over the years. Way back many years ago, chickens were left to feed on the kitchen left-over or foraging for their food.
But, with time, chicken keepers have started being CONScious of what they are feeding their birds. They have become careful in choosing non-GMO and organic certified feeds.
The following guide will help you in choosing the best chicken feeds for laying chickens:
Nutrients
While being careful to choose non-GMO and organic feeds, you should also CONSider checking the nutrient value of those feeds.
There are various nutrients that your layers would need for their health, high egg production, and nutritious hard-shelled eggs.
Therefore the chicken layers feed should have a balance of protein, calcium, vital minerals, and vitamins.
The protein level should be 16 – 18% but with extra calcium for the layers and also for the hard-shelled eggs.
To know what is contained in the feed, you should read keenly the label on the package.
Content
The number of your chickens would direct you on the capacity of the feed you would need.
If your chickens are few, you don’t need to buy a big package since the feed can go stale if it stays for long. Buy what can last them a week at most for fresher feeds.
Form of Feeds
Manufacturing of chicken feed comes in different ways. Some feeds are pellets, mash, mixed seeds, whole grains, and crumbles.
But, what is essential is to note the nutrients in the shown in the label. Read what is in the label on the package and ask the customer service to elaborate if you are not sure what it means.
Feed Ingredients
Check carefully the ingredients that make up the chicken layer feed you intend to buy. Various chicken feeds are a mixture of different types of components.
The best chicken feed ingredients will be the ones that make a right formula of the proper nutrients for layers.
If you are keen in feeding your chickens with non-GMO feed, be careful to check out the ingredients whether they are GMO or non-GMO. If the package says the ingredients are non-GMO, then the USDA certified sign should be on the label.
Price
Some feeds are exorbitantly priced and yet they contain the same ingredients with others that have lower prices. It is always prudent to shop around for a better deal in pricing. That way you can get more for less cash.
Words Used on Chicken Layers Feed
To avoid getting confused when out there looking for the right feed for your layers, get to know the different words used on chicken feeds. Such words are:
Mash – Mash is almost powder-like feed but with slightly bigger particles. The feed is usually unprocessed when milling it. It is a versatile feed that can be fed on all type of poultry whether the chicks or the adults in and either dry or wet.
Pellets – Pellets are chicken feed made of big particles. They help assuage chicken feed wastage as the birds will tend to pick each piece when feeding. Chicks cannot feed on pellets since they are a bigger size for them.
Crumbles – Another word for pellets but with the size of chicks. Crumbles can also be fed to the mature chickens as well.
Fermented – It is the chicken feed mixed with water and left for some time to ferment naturally. The feed is not ideal of newly hatched chicks. This feed helps to boost digestion in chickens.
Medicated Chick Feed – Coccidiostat treated feed for chicks to build chicks immunity against possible coccidian protozoa attacks.
Unmedicated Chick Feed – Coccidiostat-free chick feed.
Final Verdict
The last part of this review is making the final verdict. Albeit the difficulty in making the decision, it is inevitable to summarize it by singling one of the best chicken feeds for laying chickens from the list of feeds reviewed.
The best choice is Scratch and Peck Layer Feed which is non-GMO and is organic USDA certified. The many good CONSumers’ reviews and high ratings is another reason for placing this feed in the top of the list.
If you differ with this choice and you have a different opinion or any other comment, please do not hesitate to mention. We would love to get your insight. Leave your comments in the section here below.