Guide to Feeding Layer Stock
Feed is the single most important factor to successfully keeping a flock of laying birds. The nutritional quality of your hen’s feed will affect their egg production, egg size, shell quality and overall health.
Whilst layers will survive and lay some eggs on almost any type of feed, their diet must be properly balanced for maximum production, health and well-being.
Hen eggs contain a large proportion of high quality proteins. These are not readily produced by the hens themselves, but obtained from the ‘building blocks’ of protein, amino acids, contained in the hen’s various feed sources.
NRM poultry feeds are formulated to ensure that these critical amino acids are present at the appropriate levels and right ratios.
Studies have shown that correct level of vitamins and minerals play a part in helping to lower stress, disease and assist maximum production in poultry. Because raw ingredients often lack sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals, NRM poultry feeds are supplemented to promote the correct balance required for good health and resistance to disease.
By using NRM poultry feeds, you ensure the eggs your poultry produce not only look good, but are richer in vitamins, particularly the protective vitamins - A and E.
Significant quantities of calcium in the layer bird’s diet will ensure quality eggshell production. NRM feeds meet this requirement due to the addition of shell grit and other calcium sources to their poultry feeds.
Green feeds are generally a rich source of vitamins. Greens also contain pigments, which give the egg yolks a rich, golden-yellow colour.
Greens such as lucerne, and leaves of silverbeet and lettuces are all excellent sources of vitamins and pigment.
Poultry eat to satisfy their nutritional requirements. To maximise egg production and maintain body weight DO NOT restrict their feed intake in any way. (Appropriate consumption of Peck’n’Lay is approximately 130g/bird/day and HiLay Super is approximately 125g/bird/day). We suggest you provide a self-feeder so the birds can eat ad-lib.
Although hens usually enjoy picking over supplementary scraps, the nutritional value of vegetable peels, fruit scraps and stale bread is usually fairly low. If scraps are fed in place of a properly balanced ration, egg production will suffer.
Ample cool, clean water should always be available, as this is essential for maximum egg production. If a hen’s water intake is restricted, even for a short time, her comb will turn a blue-black colour and she may cease to lay and stop eating. In hot weather, lack of water for even a few hours can be fatal.
Actual consumption depends on the size of the bird, level of egg production, season and type of drinker used. The following may be used as a guide:
Age (weeks) Litres/day (ten birds)
1 0.2
5 1.0
15 2.3
20 2.6
25 4.0
30 5.0