If you have chickens in your backyard, you’re probably familiar with the joys of harvesting freshly laid eggs every morning. But if you’re looking for ways to increase your egg production, a few simple tricks can help.
Chickens are naturally equipped to lay a certain number of eggs each year. Still, with plenty of open space and access to a rich, varied diet, they can lay up to 50 percent more than the average.
In this blog post, we’ll cover the basics of what you should feed your chickens to ensure they lay more eggs.
Contents
The Best Foods For Egg-Laying Chickens
The best way to ensure that your chickens produce healthy eggs is to provide them with a balanced diet. This means giving them plenty of wholesome grains such as wheat and corn, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables.
Protein is also important for egg production; some good sources include mealworms, cooked eggs, and fish meal.
Healthy eggs can be easily laid when your hens have a steady supply of calcium and phosphorus!
Replenish their reserves with crushed oyster shells in each cup of feed for an excellent treat. Even better, you could surprise them by leaving out cups filled to the brim with irresistible oyster shells – sure to make any hen happy and healthy!
A Varied Diet Helps, Too
It’s important to remember that just like humans, chickens need variety in their diets too.
Try rotating different foods so that they can get all the vitamins and minerals they need for optimal health. Additionally, make sure that your chickens always have access to fresh water so that their bodies are well-hydrated—this will also help them produce more eggs!
Chickens can be picky eaters, so it’s important to keep experimenting until you find a combination of foods that works for them.
Some people even give their chickens treats such as yogurt or pumpkin seeds for an extra boost in egg production!
So, in conclusion, if you want your backyard chickens to produce more eggs than ever, provide them with a nutritious diet full of wholesome grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
Other Things That Will Increase Egg Production
- Open Space – their bodies benefit from the exercise and fresh air that comes with roaming freely throughout the day, which in turn boosts egg production.
- Furthermore, research has shown that having enough room for chickens to move around can reduce their stress levels and make them less likely to be affected by disease or parasites; this leads to healthier birds that are better able to produce eggs.
- Chickens require 14 hours of light per day to keep them perfectly happy and encourage egg laying, so make sure their coop is well-lit. However, please don’t leave the lights on all the time since they won’t get enough sleep. Lack of sleep will negatively affect egg production.
- Another great tip is to ensure that the chickens are secure from predators. No amount of coddling will get chickens to lay eggs if they’re constantly scared for their life!
- And lastly, having chickens regularly treated for parasites and checked out by a vet does wonders for their comfort levels and productivity.
Conclusion
Protein sources such as mealworms or cooked eggs are also essential for optimal egg production, while minerals like calcium and phosphorus can help ensure those eggs are strong and healthy. Finally, don’t forget to give your chickens plenty of fresh water—hydrated hens lay more eggs! With these tips in mind, you should have no problem maximizing the number of delicious farm-fresh eggs coming out of your coop!
Photo by Rachael Gorjestani on Unsplash