Optimizing Health and Diet for Laying Hens: A Complete Guide
- Donna Weekes
- Aug 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 16
If you want strong, productive laying hens that reward you with beautiful, nutrient-rich eggs day after day, it’s simple: feed a high-quality, nutritionally complete layer feed—and nothing else.
With over seven years of poultry-keeping experience, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful proper nutrition is. When hens receive exactly what their bodies require, they thrive. When their diets are diluted with scraps, treats, or “extras”—even well-intended ones—egg production drops, health declines, and long-term problems begin.
Why a Complete Layer Feed Matters
A quality layer feed is precision nutrition, scientifically formulated to provide the exact balance of:
Protein (amino acids) for egg production, feather quality, and muscle health
Calcium for strong eggshells and skeletal strength
Essential vitamins and minerals to support immunity, fertility, and overall vitality.
Not all protein sources are usable by hens. Laying hens require specific amino acids, delivered in the correct ratios—something only a properly formulated poultry feed can provide.
Calcium is equally critical. Hens need far more calcium than humans to produce eggshells daily. A separate dish of crushed oyster shell allows hens to regulate their intake naturally and safely.
The Problem with Extras
Kitchen scraps, scratch grains, mealworms, and other treats may feel like kindness, but every bite of “extra” food displaces balanced nutrition. Over time, this leads to:
Thin or soft-shelled eggs
Reduced egg production
Feather loss and poor regrowth
Weakened immunity and increased illness
Think of it like feeding an athlete candy instead of a structured training diet—it simply doesn’t support performance or longevity.
Egg Quality Starts with Feed Quality
A hen’s diet directly affects her eggs. Proper amino acid levels produce firm whites, while adequate calcium creates strong shells. Better feed equals better eggs—and you’ll notice the difference.
Longevity Through Proper Nutrition
Balanced nutrition supports long, healthy lives. Treats should make up no more than 10% of the diet—or better yet, none at all.
Overindulgence can contribute to serious conditions such as fatty liver disease or prolapsed vent. Well-fed hens can lay eggs for many years, though production naturally slows after the first couple of years.
Visible Signs of Poor Nutrition
Dietary imbalance often shows up as:
Inability to regrow feathers
Ragged plumage outside of normal molt
Bald patches, aggression, and reduced laying
Feather regrowth requires adequate amino acids in the correct balance. During molt or poor feather condition, a temporary switch to a higher-protein starter/grower feed can help—but it should never replace a proper layer feed. Oyster shell must remain available for any hens still laying.
What You Can’t See Matters Too
Nutritional deficiencies often cause internal problems long before outward signs appear. By the time symptoms are visible, damage may already be done.
Then vs. Now: Why “Grandma’s Chickens” Don’t Apply
Years ago, chickens were livestock, not long-term pets. They ate scraps and grains because that’s what was available—not because it was ideal. Poultry nutrition science didn’t exist, and chickens simply didn’t live long.
Today, poultry nutritionists design feeds backed by extensive research. We benefit from decades of science and commercial industry investment—there’s no need to reinvent the diet.
Chickens Don’t Need Variety
Chickens have only 250 taste buds and swallow food whole. They don’t require flavor variety like humans do. What looks like excitement for treats is learned behavior—not nutritional need.
My Personal Experience
When I first started keeping chickens, I gave all the treats—just like many new owners. Their feathers became ragged, and health issues popped up. After learning from poultry nutrition experts and switching to feed-only nutrition, their feathers regrew, and health problems nearly disappeared.
If my flock ever has an issue, I know nutrition isn’t the cause—and that peace of mind is invaluable.
Why We Choose Purina
We feed Purina because it’s a long-established company with access to poultry nutritionists and decades of research behind their formulas. Trust matters when it comes to flock health.
THE FINAL WORDS
If you want hens that live longer, lay better and stay healthier, skip the extras and trust a complete, nutritionally balanced layer feed. Its's not restrictive-it's responsible.
Your hens don't need table scraps or treats to feel loved-they need the right feed to feel their best.
We do not have veterinarians available so it's imperative we keep them healthy, especially they are our pets.
When you see a basket full of perfect, healthy eggs, you'll know it's worth it.
I have a video available from The Chicken Chick, hosting Dr. Patrick Biggs a Poultry Nutritionist from Purina Mills.
Additional information on the diet of chickens- A Great Article-
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