Feed commercial layer feed with 16% protein as the primary diet

Provide a quality commercial layer feed formulated with 16% protein as the primary diet for laying hens. Layer feed is specifically balanced with the protein, calcium (3.5–4.5%), phosphorus, and amino acids (especially methionine and lysine) that hens need for sustained egg production. Allow continuous access throughout the day — a laying hen eats roughly 1/4 pound per day.

Why It Works

Egg production is nutritionally demanding. Each egg contains about 6 grams of protein and 2 grams of calcium. A hen laying 250+ eggs per year cannot sustain that output without precisely balanced nutrition. Commercial layer feed delivers the exact ratios that decades of poultry science have optimized, eliminating the guesswork of home-mixed rations.

Tips

• Switch from grower feed (18–20% protein) to layer feed at 18 weeks or at first egg
• Pellets reduce feed waste by up to 30% compared to crumbles or mash
• Never feed layer feed to chicks or pullets under 18 weeks — the high calcium damages developing kidneys
• Store feed in a sealed metal container to prevent moisture, mold, and rodent contamination