[Bev]

 :blink: Hi,

Newbie question here! I have fed my hens on layers mash since April last year when I got them because that is what they were having where I bought them from. Are layers pellets different/better other than the obvious shape?

Reading through the other replies about soft shells, which one of my hens has quite badly, I am wondering about trying a different brand of food, what brands do people like? Mine are currently having Growers Layers Mash which is the own brand of Central Wool Growers. It says it contains Limestone Flour and stuff to colour the yolks...hhhmmmph! I thought it was their lovely free range lifestyle that was doing that!

Learning a lot from all your messages, thank you very much!

Bev

[Aidy]

Same ingredients, one is pellet form and the other is loose like say porridge oats. Layers pellets/mash will have various additives such as calcium to aid shell production.

[joyfull]

Hi Bev and welcome.
How old are your birds? Do they have a separate pot of oyster shell or crushed baked egg shell available at all times? This is needed to supplement their calcium intake needed for laying.
Pellets are less messy than mash and should you wish to change do so gradually by slowly increasing the amount of the new feed over a few weeks.

[Bev]

Hi Joyfull,

I bought my hens as point of lay pullets in April 09 so I think they should have been around 20 weeks then, just over 1 year now. They do have 2 pots of grit/oyster shell available at all times which I have put in their favourite hanging out places. They also free range 4 days a week.

I started another post called 'my chicken is eating her eggs' last week and someone suggested buying some just Oyster shell too and limestone flour as a supplement to try to help the soft egg problem.

My local farm store doesn't have limestone flour so I have not tried it yet but just wondered if while I am searching around whether another brand might have a better balance of ingredients for my hens.

The other 2 hens are laying ok eggs and it is just the soft ones that are getting eaten. She was laying well up to about 4 weeks ago. My Mum is a vet and thinks it may be a hormone imbalance which may sort itself out come the warmer weather.

I do have a toddler and hence plenty of kitchen scraps, think I might try cutting them right down for a while. The dog will have to have them again - the dog was getting too much too a while back! Will have to stop my toddler throwing food around!

Thanks again,

Bev