Feeding Juvenile Chickens: The Importance of Layer Feed

Feeding juvenile chickens properly is essential for their health and future egg production. As chicks mature into hens, they require a balanced diet to ensure they have the nutrients needed for healthy growth and strong egg production. At 18+ months your chicks should transition to a chicken layer feed. Layer feed provides moderate protein and essential nutrients, plays a key role in keeping juvenile chickens healthy and ready for laying.

One critical aspect of layer feed is its high calcium content, which distinguishes it from other poultry feeds like scratch. Calcium is vital for hens because eggshells consist of about 94% calcium. As hens lay eggs, they constantly deplete the calcium stored in their bodies. If this mineral isn’t replenished, it can impact not only the quality of the eggs they produce but also the hen’s overall health.

Small white juevenile chicken happily walking on her bed of straw

Why Calcium is Essential for Laying Hens

When a hen lays an egg nearly every day, she uses a significant amount of calcium from her body to form the eggshell. Without enough calcium, the shells become weak or may not form at all, resulting in what are called “rubber eggs.” Although rubber eggs might be a curious find in your coop, they signal that your hen’s calcium levels are dangerously low. If not addressed, this deficiency will begin to affect calcium-rich areas of her body, such as her bones and beak, making them brittle and weak.

To avoid these health issues, feeding juvenile chickens a diet that includes layer feed with the proper amount of calcium is crucial. Commercially prepared layer feeds are designed to provide the right balance of calcium, protein, and other nutrients necessary for laying hens. For an added calcium boost, some chicken keepers offer crushed oyster shells as a free-choice supplement. Chickens are remarkably intuitive when it comes to their nutritional needs, and they’ll peck at the oyster shell only when they need extra calcium.

Balancing Treats & Layer Feed

While it’s tempting to treat your chickens with kitchen scraps or other supplemental snacks, it’s important to remember that these treats should not make up a significant portion of their diet. For instance, if a hen fills up on scraps, she might not consume enough layer feed. That could lead to a calcium deficiency. Ensure that treats remain a small part of their diet, allowing them to get most of their nutrition from layer feed.

Can Roosters Eat Layer Feed?

If you have a mixed flock and are wondering whether roosters can consume layer feed, the answer is yes. Roosters can safely eat the same layer feed provided to hens. Although they do not need as much calcium as laying hens, the moderate levels in layer feed won’t harm them.

In conclusion, feeding juvenile chickens a well-balanced diet with adequate calcium is key to their long-term health and productivity. Layer feed is specifically designed to meet the nutritional needs of laying hens, ensuring they stay healthy and produce strong, well-formed eggs. By managing treats, offering calcium supplements like oyster shells, and ensuring your chickens eat primarily layer feed, you can help your flock thrive.

For more details on feeding juvenile chickens, visit our Poultry Products section where we have specifically-formulated products for the many stages of a their life including chicks and layers. For layer hens +18 weeks we recommend Ace Hi Big Feeder Crumble or Kelley’s All Purpose Lay Crumble. They are also available as mash and pellet, and have the protein, vitamins, and minerals that your flock will need.

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