Your Hens Are Eating — So Why Aren’t They Laying? 9 Chicken-Feeding Mistakes Ontario Owners Make

You fill the feeder every morning. Your chickens rush over. The feed disappears.

So why are egg numbers dropping? Why are shells sometimes weak? Why does one bird look fantastic while another seems to be losing condition?

For many backyard chicken owners, the problem is not simply how much feed is being offered.

It is what is being fed, when it is being fed and what else is competing with the complete ration.chicken feed Ontario

Ontario's poultry nutrition guidance explains that birds need different nutrient levels depending on species, age and production stage. A balanced poultry ration supplies energy, protein and amino acids, vitamins and minerals in the correct proportions. 

Here are nine mistakes worth checking before blaming your hens.

1. Feeding every chicken the same ration chicken feed Ontario

A growing chick, meat bird and laying hen do not have identical nutritional requirements.

Young birds generally require diets designed for growth. Pullets transition as they mature. Laying hens need nutrition designed for egg production.

That is why feed bags are labelled for specific stages.

If you are standing in front of several bags wondering which one belongs in your coop, start with the animal class and life stage—not the price tag or protein number alone.

Masterfeeds, for example, publishes separate feeding programs for chick starter/grower, pullet grower, layer and broiler feeds. 

What should laying hens eat?

A properly formulated layer ration should normally form the nutritional foundation of the diet, with clean water continuously available and treats kept secondary to the balanced ration.

Turning scratch grain into the main meal

Chickens love scratch grain.

That does not automatically make scratch grain a substitute for complete layer feed.

One common problem is giving birds so much scratch, corn, kitchen scraps or treats that they begin eating less of the nutritionally balanced ration.

Ontario's farm-starting guidance specifically warns that adding excessive extra grain can dilute the nutrient balance of a complete poultry ration and contribute to production problems. 

Use scratch grain as something chickens enjoy—not as the nutritional centre of the feeding program unless the product and feeding program specifically call for it

Ignoring protein quality 

“What percentage protein should my chicken feed have?”

Protein percentage matters, but it is not the entire story.

Proteins are made from amino acids. Ontario's poultry nutrition guidance notes that essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine play important roles in poultry nutrition. 

That is another reason a professionally formulated poultry ration is different from simply mixing random grains together.

4. Forgetting how important calcium is for laying hens

Egg production changes a hen's mineral requirements.

Ontario guidance notes that laying and breeding hens have substantially greater calcium requirements relative to available phosphorus than many other birds. 

That is why a proper layer feed is formulated differently from feed intended for younger poultry.

If you are experiencing persistent shell-quality or flock-health issues, do not simply add random supplements. Review the ration and speak with an appropriate poultry or veterinary professional when necessary.

Letting water become the forgotten nutrient 

You could buy excellent chicken feed and still undermine your flock if water access is poor.

Clean, fresh water should remain available.

During hot Ontario weather, this becomes even more important. Ontario notes that poultry water requirements rise with feed intake and temperature, with substantial increases possible in very hot conditions. 

A dirty, empty or poorly positioned waterer can become a feeding problem because water and feed consumption are closely connected.

Leaving feed sitting until it becomes stale

Feed quality does not improve after sitting exposed to moisture, pests or barn humidity.

Avoid feeding anything mouldy, musty or suspicious.

Masterfeeds' poultry guide also recommends keeping feed fresh rather than allowing stale feed to accumulate in feeders. 

For Ontario barns and backyard coops, that means:

• keep feed dry; 

• close bags properly; 

• use pest-resistant containers; 

• clean feeders; 

• remove wet or spoiled material; 

• buy quantities you can store properly. 

Assuming pellets, crumble and mash are nutritionally identical experiences 

Feed form matters to how birds consume a ration.

Ontario explains that pellets are manufactured into a uniform form that can help prevent birds from selecting individual ingredients, while crumble provides similar benefits in a smaller particle size suitable for smaller birds. Mash allows more opportunity for selective feeding. 

There is no universal answer that says every flock must eat the same physical format.

Choose a product suitable for the birds you are feeding.

Forgetting that weather changes consumption

Canadian weather affects livestock management.

When temperatures climb, hens may decrease feed intake. Ontario reports that high temperatures can reduce feed consumption and affect egg production, egg size and shell quality. 

During colder conditions, birds may consume more feed as energy requirements change.

Instead of assuming your flock will eat exactly the same amount every day of the year, watch body condition, consumption and production.

Buying feed without thinking about the entire flock

The cheapest bag is not necessarily the cheapest feeding program.

If birds sort through a feed, waste it, spill it, refuse it or require another purchase to correct an inappropriate ration, your real feeding cost rises.

Look at:

animal stage + nutritional suitability + amount consumed + amount wasted + storage + performance.

That gives you a much better picture than bag price alone

What chicken feeds are available at Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies?

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies currently carries poultry products from Jones Feed Mills and Masterfeeds, including layer feeds, broiler feeds, chick feed, scratch grain and poultry treats. 

For laying hens, one current option is Masterfeeds 18% AV Layer Pellet/Crumble, which is labelled to be fed as the sole ration to laying hens. 

Customers can also browse Jones Feed Mills poultry options through our Jones collection. 

Need help choosing?

If you are unsure which feed matches your birds, their age or your goals, contact Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies in Blenheim, Ontario.

Call or text 226-774-0933 or 519-350-5804.

FAQs

What is the best feed for laying hens in Ontario?

Use a properly formulated layer ration appropriate for laying birds rather than relying primarily on scratch grains or treats.

Are pellets or crumbles better for chickens?

Both can provide complete nutrition when properly formulated. Crumbles are smaller particles, while pellets provide a uniform ration that reduces ingredient sorting.

Can chickens live on scratch grain?

Scratch grain should not automatically replace a nutritionally complete ration. Excess additional grain can dilute overall nutrient intake.

How often should chickens have water?

Fresh, clean drinking water should remain available continuously.

Where can I buy chicken feed in Chatham-Kent?

Chatham Farm Feed & Supplies serves Blenheim, Chatham-Kent and surrounding Southwestern Ontario communities with poultry feeds from Jones Feed Mills and Masterfeeds.