If your hens are eating the right feed you will be rewarded with healthy hens than lay lots of eggs for you, however feeding them the wrong feed can be a disaster for their health and also egg production.

In our complete guide to
chicken feed, we are going to take a look at: basic requirement, what goes into each type of feed, the perfect feed for your
flock and lots more.

All feed contains protein. The amount of protein will vary based on the age of the bird or type of bird. There are usually some amino acids – lysine and methionine are the commonest.

Vitamins – most
often A, E, D3 and B12 plus trace mineral elements such as phosphorus and copper sulfate.

Enzymes to help with
digestion and of course fiber in the form of the grain in the product.

Some feeds may have other additives such as Omega 3, but this varies brand to brand. This added Omega 3 increases the egg’s Omega 3 count, making eggs healthier for
people to eat. Always read your product labels so that you know what they contain. You will find the labels attached to the
bottom of the feed sack or in the case of smaller bags of feed, it may be printed onto the bag itself.

Here’s a list of the most
frequent feed:

Pellets: Chicken feed is made into pelletized form for ease of use and decreased waste.

Crumbles:
Pellets that have been reduced to chick size pieces for ease of eating.

Mash: Mash is basically unprocessed feed. The particles are very small almost powder-like. It can be used for chicks or adults and it can be fed dry or wet.

Fermented:
This is any type of chicken feed that has been mixed with water and allowed to ferment naturally Bedding Its personal
choice which bedding you prefer, I personally use straw it has been used as bedding for horses and farm animals for many years. It’s warm, allows liquids to drain away, and provides a comfortable bed.