Raising laying chickens can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. Whether you’re a small backyard flock owner or you have a larger farm operation, ensuring that your chickens receive the right nutrition is crucial to their health and egg production. The feed you choose plays a pivotal role in their overall well-being and the quality of eggs they produce.
If you're looking for high-quality feed options that offer balanced nutrition tailored to laying hens, you may want to consider two new styles of feed from Nutrena available now at JAX Farm & Ranch: Harvest Blend and Hi-Pro Scratch. These feeds are designed to support the unique nutritional needs of your laying chickens while enhancing their health and productivity.
1. Nutrena Harvest Blend: A Balanced, Wholesome Option
Nutrena’s Harvest Blend is a unique feed designed to provide your chickens with a wholesome, nutritious diet. It combines a mix of high-quality grains and essential nutrients to meet the specific needs of laying hens.
Key Benefits of Harvest Blend:
- Whole Grains: The Harvest Blend is made with a variety of whole grains, which are a natural source of energy and essential nutrients for your hens. Whole grains support healthy digestion and encourage foraging behavior, which can help keep your chickens mentally stimulated and active.
- Enhanced Digestibility: Harvest Blend is formulated to be highly digestible, ensuring that your chickens can absorb the maximum amount of nutrients from their feed.
- Added Omega-3s: This feed contains ingredients rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support overall chicken health and contribute to healthier eggs with better yolk color and nutritional value.
- Vitamins & Minerals: It is fortified with essential vitamins and minerals to support bone health, eggshell strength, and immune system function. This is particularly important for laying hens, who have high nutritional demands due to the constant production of eggs.
Why Choose Harvest Blend? If you want to give your chickens a more natural, wholesome diet that mirrors what they would eat in the wild, the Harvest Blend is a great choice. It’s perfect for those who want a nutritious and balanced option that provides a range of benefits beyond just egg production.
2. Nutrena Hi-Pro Scratch: A Protein-Packed Choice for Laying Hens
If you’re looking for a feed that will give your laying hens a boost in protein and energy, Hi-Pro Scratch from Nutrena might be just what you need. This feed is specially designed to be a supplemental option for chickens that are already on a balanced layer feed or for those that need an extra boost to meet their nutritional needs.
Key Benefits of Hi-Pro Scratch:
- High-Protein Content: As the name suggests, Hi-Pro Scratch is packed with high-quality protein, which is essential for supporting muscle growth, feather health, and overall body condition. Protein is also crucial for maintaining consistent egg production, especially during peak laying seasons.
- High Energy: This feed contains a higher energy level than standard scratch, which helps keep your chickens active and healthy, supporting both their physical activity and egg-laying performance.
- Variety of Grains: Hi-Pro Scratch is made with a combination of grains such as cracked corn, oats, and wheat. These grains are designed to keep your chickens satisfied, reduce pecking behavior, and provide a more natural foraging experience.
- Supplemental Feed: Hi-Pro Scratch is ideal as a supplement to a primary layer feed. It gives your chickens the added protein and energy they need during times of high egg production or when they need extra support, such as during molt or cold weather.
Why Choose Hi-Pro Scratch? Hi-Pro Scratch is a great option if you have hens that require extra protein or energy to maintain their egg production. It’s also beneficial for those who want to provide a more stimulating feed option that allows chickens to forage and engage in natural behaviors.
Combining Harvest Blend and Hi-Pro Scratch for Optimal Results
While each of these feeds can be used independently, you may also consider offering them together for a more balanced approach to your chickens’ diet. For instance, Harvest Blend can be your primary feed, offering the basic nutrition your chickens need, while Hi-Pro Scratch can be used as a supplement to give them an extra protein and energy boost when necessary.
Feeding Tips:
- Adjust to Egg Production: During peak egg-laying seasons, you might find that your hens benefit from more protein and energy, so incorporating Hi-Pro Scratch alongside their regular feed will help meet their nutritional needs.
- Offer Scratch as a Treat: Use Hi-Pro Scratch as a treat or supplemental feed, especially during winter months when hens may not be foraging as much outside. It’s a great way to keep them active and ensure they have enough energy.
- Free-Choice Feeding: With both of these feeds, you can offer them free-choice so your chickens can eat at their own pace. However, be sure to monitor their intake to avoid overfeeding.
Conclusion
The right feed is essential for your laying chickens’ health and productivity, and Nutrena’s Harvest Blend and Hi-Pro Scratch are both excellent options that offer balanced, nutrient-rich solutions. By choosing the right feed based on your chickens’ needs—whether it’s a wholesome, grain-based option like Harvest Blend or a protein-packed energy boost with Hi-Pro Scratch—you can ensure your chickens stay healthy, active, and productive.
Remember, the key to successful chicken-raising is providing a varied and balanced diet, and these new feeds from Nutrena are here to support you in that effort. Happy chicken keeping!