Contrary to popular belief, chickens can lay eggs year-round. Some people say the heat of the summer, the short days of winter, or old age will stop chickens from producing eggs.
Those things do have an effect, but even so, chickens will keep producing eggs all year and for years to come as long as you do two things: Keep them healthy and keep them happy. And one way to do that is to feed them the right foods.
So what exactly should you feed them? That question is answered in this video by Becky of Becky's Homestead. She's been raising chickens for years and has found the perfect combinate of foods to feed to her chickens.
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Here are her suggestions:
- Laying mash
- Oats
- Bread
- Whole corn
Of course, there's a little more to it than that, so be sure to watch the video to hear her advice on what times of the year to feed them these foods.
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I feed my chickens cracked corn and lay crumbles year round and thay lay year round some are 5 years old
what breed of chickens^?
I feed mine layer feed and grains, corn only when the temps drop close to freezing. Only thing that’s necessary is making sure your chickens have least 10 hours of light everyday like the chickens do in the summer. Least where I live in the Northwest in America.. long as you keep a light in the coop till around 9pm -10pm, your chickens will keep laying year round. It’s February and my chickens are laying 24 eggs a day! Sometimes more!
I would like to know how you know whole corn has more nutrition than cracked corn e z to digest same thing
Mine will not lay in the summer.
I would like to know how this works?
Dad would feed them crushed red pepper in the winter mixed with their cracked corn, and we would hang dried red sumac tops from the rafters for them. I’m not sure what it did for them biologically, but we had eggs year round. Yes, I’m talking about the sumac that grows along the roads. We knew a guy that delivered frozen pizza kits, when he had out if date ones it was usually the crust that went out. The Chickens got the crust and we got the sauce cheese and pepperoni for homemade pizza bread. They loved the old crusts.
Some of my hens have been laying smaller eggs for a while- do you know why and what I can do about it. Everyone is fed the same. Corn and laying pellets.
Smaller eggs usually mean they are at the end of their egg cycle, if they are older, going into moult or if they’re young just starting their egg cycle
For your recipe, how many birds does this feed?
How many years do your birds usually lay daily or most days? Or when do you cull the birds?
My comment is ,I have done just what you say how to feed your chickens and Wow I have eggs every single day.i am so happy to have followed your instructions.thank you so very much
Glad you found it helpful!
Where is her recipe because i would love to have it but can’t find it
I have looked for the laying mash to my dismay I can not find anywhere. Can you help?
Most stores call it Crumbles
Where do you get whole corn and laying mash
feed store
Whole corn at Tractor Supply.
What’s the trick getting them to eat whole corn mine won’t touch it even if it’s the only thing they get
My girls won’t eat whole corn either. I usually buy the whole corn and put it in a mason jar about 3/4 full with water to about an inch below the rim. I place a paper towel over it and screw a ring in it. I let it sit for a couple I days. The corn softens. I then put it in my food processor and break it down that way. I put a few tablespoons of it in their later feed mixed with water. I live in NY so I also add red pepper flakes to it as well. Between the corn and red pepper flakes it keeps them warm during the winter months. I don’t give it to them in the warmer months bc they would get to hot. Chickens don’t have tastebuds so the red pepper flakes don’t bother them.
go to a farm will be way cheaper there! I feed my (30 chickens ) meal worms 3 handfuls per day that gives them extra energy and protein . Voila!! eggs in the winter. The red pepper provides heat the sumac protein! more energy to replace what is lost in the winter keeping warm. JR
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, IF THE OATES ARE THE SAME OATS YOU FEED HORSES 🙂 THANK YOU
This is some of the worst nutrition advice I’ve seen on Pintrest yet!!!
I agree! I guess they think the chickens don’t need a break from egg-laying either.
Cracked corn is whole corn, nothing removed
They are going to spend more energy breaking down whole corn than cracked corn. So they will need more food. I don’t agree with this, I have been keeping chickens 20 years.
Hi there can I also feed quails .this
Its about hours of daylight. Food might do the extra kick but they need more hours of artificial light, PERIOD.
So good to see folks working hard to have chickens, etc. Been a chicken lady for 40 yrs. and watched it all.