What do I feed my older hens after they have stopped laying eggs completely?

[David797]

Hi guys,
So I have just started keeping chickens again and although all my hens are less than 2 years of age and are laying consistently, I was wondering what sort of diet I should feed them after they have stopped laying eggs altogether. Can I continue to feed them layer pellets? Or should I give them a special diet? I figured it would be difficult to feed them different diets as I let them free-range and all the hens have access to layer pellets. I have no intention of killing them once they are older as I love them as much as any pet and I intend to keep them until they go of natural causes.

 

[sumi]

Layer feed is formulated for active layers, with a higher percentage of calcium needed for egg shell formation. Non-layers will do fine on an "all flock" or even grower/finisher feed. If you have active layers and non-layers in the flock and is worried about the extra calcium, you can feed an all flock feed and offer the active layers crushed oystershell or egg shells free choice in a separate feeder, so they can help themselves as they feel they need to.

 

[chicksurreal]

I agree with sumi. All of my laying hens get grower/finisher feed because we have roosters too that eat from the same feed. I put out oyster shell for the girls and they eat it when they want it. I've never seen the roos even look at it.

 

[Silvey17]

I also agree. The brands I trust are Purina and Dumor. I usually feed my chickens flock raiser(by Purian) when they stop laying eggs.

 

[chicksurreal]

I like Dumor from the choices we have locally. My chickens seem to thrive on it.

 

[donrae]

I just feed an all-in-one to everyone. This way I only buy one feed, and feed everyone from new chicks to laying hens to roosters to growing cockerels to aged hens the same thing.