AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

If you think about it, the diet of the egg-laying chicken has been the most heavily researched of almost any animal.
It is in the interests of egg producers to maximise the egg-laying efficiency of these birds for financial reasons.
Therefore, these diets are pretty much on the money in terms of nutritional requirements.
Then we add other dietary items to make things more interesting for the birds; then we try to make up for the diluting effect of these extras by adding more vitamin/mineral/protein supplements... a very "arse-about" way of doing things (pardon the French) if you look at it critically.

However, there is no doubt that the birds enjoy this varied diet and providing them with environmental enrichment in this way is important also.

Since we are not commercial producers but backyard hobbyists, it pays to base the diet on a good quality layer pellets with other supplements. Breeds genetically selected for maximum egg production are more likely to "break down" with these sorts of diets whereas more "mixed" breeds are less likely to do so, purely because of the fewer eggs that they are trying to lay.

At the end of the day if what you do works for you then don't change it. If you are having problems then perhaps it is time to re-think the diets (as well as assessing the overall health of the birds and general husbandry).

I agree Parvo. My girls are my backyard pets and although laying eggs isn't any benefit to me I want healthy hens that aren't laying soft eggs because we all know this can have very adverse health issues. My hens get treats after they have had plenty of commercially bought food. If its hot frozen treats are offered as our temperatures here have been averaging up to 35 degrease Celsius. What ever the issue changing foods seems to have word for my little silkie at the moment with a hard egg being produced thank you everyone for all your advice

[quot] If you think about it, the diet of the egg-laying chicken has been the most heavily researched of almost any animal.
It is in the interests of egg producers to maximise the egg-laying efficiency of these birds for financial reasons.
Therefore, these diets are pretty much on the money in terms of nutritional requirements.
Then we add other dietary items to make things more interesting for the birds; then we try to make up for the diluting effect of these extras by adding more vitamin/mineral/protein supplements... a very "arse-about" way of doing things (pardon the French) if you look at it critically.

However, there is no doubt that the birds enjoy this varied diet and providing them with environmental enrichment in this way is important also.

Since we are not commercial producers but backyard hobbyists, it pays to base the diet on a good quality layer pellets with other supplements. Breeds genetically selected for maximum egg production are more likely to "break down" with these sorts of diets whereas more "mixed" breeds are less likely to do so, purely because of the fewer eggs that they are trying to lay.

At the end of the day if what you do works for you then don't change it. If you are having problems then perhaps it is time to re-think the diets (as well as assessing the overall health of the birds and general husbandry).[qiot]

Love this you know you stuff parvo very informative

Glad to help, Mendles, and welcome to the APF!

There are many people here happy to help and share their experiences.

I see that now its good people with the know how share and its good for everyone