What to feed laying hens at home in winter

Many people keep chickens on their own farms. These birds are considered the most undemanding in terms of food and care, and can eat grains, grass, larvae, and other foods. To ensure good egg production, they need to be properly fed, especially during the winter.

Laying hens' diets must contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals. Only then can they be expected to produce good eggs at home, so it's important to know what to feed them.

The principle of feeding laying hens for maximum egg production

The main goal of chicken owners is to obtain the maximum number of eggs from each bird. The following factors can influence egg production:

• breed;
• time of year;
• conditions of detention;
• diet.

Laying hens should be fed systematically and in strictly defined quantities both during the warm season and in winter, as excess or lack of food can negatively affect productivity.

For breakfast, laying hens are best fed a mash consisting of boiled potatoes, bran, special vitamin and mineral supplements, grain, and warm water. This mixture should be prepared daily; storing it is not recommended. Breakfast should be fresh every morning. Experienced poultry breeders recommend feeding laying hens a grain mixture in the evening, a few hours before bedtime.

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The diet is regularly adjusted according to the season, as chickens' vitamin and mineral needs vary at different times of the year. For example, in summer they need greens and vegetables, in spring they need increased amounts of vitamin and mineral supplements, and in winter, increased calorie, protein, and bone meal content are recommended.

What to feed laying hens to increase egg production

For optimal egg production, a chicken's diet should consist of 65% grain. The rest should be a combination of animal and plant foods with beneficial additives.

The following cereals are suitable for laying hens:

1. Wheat. This is an essential grain for increasing egg production. Wheat contains a huge amount of minerals and vitamins, as well as easily digestible protein, carbohydrates, and proteins. Wheat bran can be added to the main diet of chickens and laying hens.
2. Barley. This cereal has antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. However, it should be given in small quantities.
3. Oats. This essential grain boosts immunity and, consequently, egg production. Oats contain essential amino acids, oils, vitamins, minerals, and fats for the bird's body.
4. Rye. It has a general strengthening effect on birds. It contains large amounts of fiber, iron, phosphorus, and other essential micronutrients. Feeding birds rye should only begin after they reach 10-12 months of age. Furthermore, its content in the feed should not exceed 8%.
5. Millet. This grain should only be added to adult laying hens. They need it to maintain good health due to its high levels of fatty acids.
6. Buckwheat. An excellent supplement to the main feed, rich in various vitamins and micro- and macroelements.

To help the hens digest their food, you can place a bowl filled with chalk or small stones in the room. Yeast (no more than 2 g per day), pine flour (10 g), and boiled root vegetables (40 g) are also recommended as supplements.

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Is bread suitable for feeding chickens?

Feeding laying hens bread crumbs is not recommended, as they contain substances that can reduce productivity. All baked goods made from premium flour can be harmful to hens, as they swell significantly in their stomachs.

Bread crumbs made from dark flour are also unsuitable for feeding poultry. They contain large amounts of yeast and salt. The fermentation processes in the body of laying hens can lead to various intestinal diseases.

Spoiled crackers, even those that have become moldy, are also unsuitable for chickens. If consumed, they could even die from poisoning or intestinal problems. Laying hens should also avoid sweet flour products, especially those with various fillings.

What else should you not give to laying hens?

Chickens are such unfussy eaters that they'll eat almost anything, so you need to keep a close eye on them. Avoid allowing moldy or fermented foods, raw potatoes, or uncut root vegetables into the coop.

Composition of compound feed

Making your own layer feed is easy. The key is to follow the proper proportions and include all the necessary ingredients:

• cereal crops;
• grain legumes;
• grass;
• dairy products;
• roots;
• bone meal.

It is also necessary to add a small amount of salt and yeast to the feed for laying hens.

Chicken diet in winter

To ensure good egg production in winter, every poultry breeder must know what to feed their hens at home during this time of year. Many ingredients in compound feed remain the same throughout the year, but some do change. Some components are simply substituted with similar ones.

To ensure your hens get the vitamins and minerals they need during the winter, you need to devote time to this during the summer. Specifically, to ensure they lay eggs, you need to:

• prepare cabbage and other vegetables;
• mow the grass and dry it;
• make pine flour.

To ensure good egg production during the winter, chickens need to be fed twice a day – in the morning and in the evening.

The morning diet of laying hens includes:

• porridge;
• dairy products;
• sliced ​​boiled potatoes;
• Mash (wet). Pine flour, shells, chalk, and chopped dry grass are added to the mash.

The evening diet includes:

• grain and dry feed;
• chopped corn tops;
• bran;
• barley cake.

To ensure good egg production in winter, it's important not only to ensure proper nutrition and know what to feed them at home, but also to ensure the hens have the optimal temperature and cleanliness in the coop.