Something that just baffles me is that something so "small" can cause such a stir. In the last 3-4 weeks I have received many, MANY calls, texts and Facebook messages about chicken feed. I've talked to more people about chicken feed and chicken nutrition in the past month, than I did in the 6 years I worked at the feed store. Chicken owners all over the country have really started to think about what they are feeding their hens, especially when eggs are costing $4-6 a dozen in the store.
For the past 8-9 months I am been feeding TSC's Producers Pride 16% layer pellet. Do you know what else, I am been getting little to no eggs! For the entire summer, fall and winter I was getting maybe a couple eggs a day out of almost 30 hens!
Now I am normally not one for believing everything I read on the internet, but if you haven't heard, Purina Feeds is under fire for what people assume is a purposely caused issue. For those that do not know, Purina Mills makes Dumor Feeds. Tractor Supply company owns Producers Pride, but Purina Mills also makes it. Land O' Lakes is the company that owns Purina Mills and did you know that Land O' Lakes also owns one of the biggest egg producing companies! Seems a little too close for comfort for me. I have also read on some internet sites that
So about a month ago I switched feed brands. I started feeding Runnings Country Companion layer pellet and went from 1-2 eggs a day to almost 20 in just over a week! I changed nothing but the layer pellet... really seemed too good to be true. So if your chickens haven't been laying very well, maybe it's time to take a look at the brand of feed you are giving them.