A properly formulated diet is the key to healthy laying hens and good egg production. Many breeders make the mistake of using only feed, but this does not provide the birds with all the vitamins necessary for chickens. The problem is particularly acute in winter. Therefore, you need to know which products contain certain substances. Otherwise, the hens start to get sick and produce few eggs.

Why do chickens have vitamins?

Above all, such feeding is necessary for the health of the birds. Vitamins help protect against the following common diseases in chickens:

• viral diseases;
• loss of feathers;
• cannibalism.

Vitamins are also important in egg production. Usually, in the summer, chickens do not suffer from shortages, since they themselves receive useful substances from the pastures. But in winter, accessories are necessary.

Essential vitamins and minerals for poultry

The lack of certain substances greatly affects the health of chickens and the quality of eggs. To avoid possible problems, first of all, you need to provide the layers with the following vitamins:

1. Vitamin A – necessary from the moment of emergence to maintain metabolism. Without it, the eggs will be smaller and the yolk will turn pale.
2. Vitamin D – responsible for the formation of a strong shell. Otherwise, it might be missing. In the summer, the birds get it thanks to the sun’s rays, in the winter, the lack leads to rickets, and the bone tissue is deformed.
3. Vitamin E is essential for egg fertilization.
4. B vitamins support the endocrine and digestive systems and are essential for mucous membranes. Without it, anemia can develop.
5. Vitamin K is needed for good blood clotting.
6. A lack of folic acid also leads to anemia, problems with growth, feathering and egg production.

Don’t forget the minerals either:

• calcium;
• magnesium;
• phosphorus;
• iodine;
• Iron;
• manganese;
• zinc.

Most of these substances are responsible for the formation of the skeletal system of laying hens and the shell of eggs. Due to a lack of iodine, goat meat grows, the bird breathes heavily, and the egg is worse.

What kind of enriched food do laying hens receive for egg production?

Chickens get most of the necessary substances from natural products. The bottom line is that the birds were received on time.

Grain

Of all the products, cereals form the basis of the diet of chickens. They provide the necessary energy and prevent many diseases. Among cereals, the following are preferred:

• wheat (must be 75-80% of the weight of the grain) – contains E, B and protein;
• barley – must be germinated in winter;
• oats – contains fiber and fat; steamed and sprouted;
• Rye is rich in proteins, but it is given little by little;
• corn – pre-crushed, also fed in small portions.

Root vegetables and vegetables

It is recommended to give the following vegetables raw:

• beets (sugar or fodder);
• carrot;
• Cabbage.

Grate or chop in advance. You can also give potatoes, but only boiled ones.

Legumes

All legumes are first approx. It is soaked in water for half an hour and then boiled in water. Otherwise, toxins remain in them, and the grains themselves are too hard in their raw state. The chickens are fed beans, black and white beans, soybeans, lentils, and peas.

Flour feed

Chickens absorb grains better in meal form while still getting all the fiber they need. Wheat, barley, rye, corn, amaranth and soybeans are used to produce such feeds. The resulting mixture is added to all food after grinding.

Protein foods and worms

This type of food contains many amino acids that hens need for energy and development. Protein is found in many plant and animal foods. Chickens can also be given cottage cheese, meat, meat and bone meal. Fish will also be useful, but in small quantities, otherwise the egg will have a characteristic smell.

Worms are a good addition. Their use improves egg production. Worms can be bred directly on farms using any organic material.

Nutritional supplements

To strengthen the health of the layers, increase immunity and egg production, use food additives:

• coniferous flour;
• probiotics;
• dry algae;
• fish oil;
• water with unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

Foliage

If possible, let the chickens roam freely so that they can find the feed they need on their own. Otherwise, use chopped herbs. Even ordinary grass can do it, collect dandelions, tops left after vegetables.

Other products

First of all, the chickens must be provided with fresh water. Stay hydrated. Crackers increase egg production. They can be crushed or soaked in water. However, fresh bread, especially yeast bread, ferments in the stomach. Poultry farmers are also advised to put cut melons, such as pumpkins, in chicken vests or in the chickens’ walking area. Birds and radishes eat them.

What to add in winter?

In winter, the hens themselves cannot get all the necessary materials from the pasture. Lack of light also affects it, so feeding is particularly important. To avoid vitamin deficiency, you should give greens in summer or autumn. They are dried, finely chopped and added to feed.

They also use vegetables that can be stored for a long time. Each fruit should be carefully examined. It should be strong and free from rot.

Food that cannot be fed to birds

In order to maintain the health of the birds and increase egg production, the food must be carefully selected. Some of these can be harmful to chickens:

• salt in large quantities;
• unripe night vegetables and leaves;
• onions can lead to anemia and even death;
• dried and uncooked legumes;
• dry rice has a bad effect on the intestines;
• raw eggs cause cannibalism;
• apple core.

Some breeds of chickens cannot eat citrus fruits. Therefore, when choosing a diet, consider the names of the various layers.

When you need a vitamin supplement

In summer, when fresh vegetation and sun are available, chickens usually do not need additional vitamins. This arises in the following cases:

• under stress, such as during transport;
• in winter, so that the chickens do not freeze and suffer from vitamin deficiency;
• If there are sick birds, vitamins are a good prevention.

To avoid health problems, birds are often given various medications. For example, the multivitamin Undevit supports the metabolism well. A well-chosen preparation provides the body with the necessary substances.

Administration of vitamin D in broiler chickens

Vitamin D should be in the diet. With its absence, growth deteriorates and various diseases arise. The first sign is the growth of joints.

In the summer, the chickens get this vitamin from the sun, and in the winter it must be added to the water. You can give low-fat cottage cheese, yogurt, whey, or feed the birds with boiled eggs and fish oil daily. But an excess of the vitamin can be harmful to the kidneys. Therefore, the dose is calculated taking into account the degree of deficiency.

Natural vitamins for broiler chickens

If it is not possible to use vitamin complexes, then natural products will do the same. For broilers, fresh greens (especially green onions), needles, cottage cheese, carrots, feed yeast and fresh beets are best. And, of course, clean water is necessary.

If you provide the necessary materials for the chickens, you can achieve a high egg production. Nutrition has a profound effect on layers and broilers. Birds will die without the necessary substances.