6 Best Laying Hen Feed For Strong Eggshells Old Farmers Swear By
Discover the 6 best laying hen feeds old farmers swear by. These calcium-rich formulas are the key to ensuring strong, healthy eggshells for your flock.
You’ve seen it before. You reach into the nesting box and your fingers find a warm, freshly laid egg that cracks under the slightest pressure. A thin, brittle eggshell is more than just an annoyance; it’s a clear signal from your hens that something is missing in their diet. Getting those strong, sturdy shells that feel like stone in your hand starts long before the hen even settles into the box.
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Why Strong Eggshells Start with the Right Feed
A hen’s body is a remarkable factory, turning feed into a perfectly packaged source of nutrition in about 24 hours. The shell itself is nearly 95% calcium carbonate. To build that protective fortress, a hen needs a steady, reliable source of calcium, along with phosphorus and vitamin D3 to help her body absorb and use it.
A complete layer feed is formulated to provide this exact balance. It’s not just about dumping calcium into their system. The ratios matter. Too much phosphorus can inhibit calcium absorption, and without enough vitamin D3, the calcium is useless.
Think of a complete feed as the foundation of a house. You can add decorations later, but without a solid foundation, the whole structure is weak. Weak shells can lead to eggs breaking in the nest, encouraging egg-eating, and can even be a sign of deeper health issues like a hen leaching calcium from her own bones to produce an egg.
Purina Layena+ Pellets: The All-Around Classic
If there’s one feed you’ll find in nearly every farm store, it’s Purina Layena. This is the dependable workhorse of the layer feed world, and for good reason. It’s consistent, balanced, and does exactly what it promises: supports reliable egg production with strong shells.
The formula is built around a 16% protein level, which is the standard for maintaining a healthy laying flock. Purina’s "Oyster Strong System" is their branded way of saying they include ground oyster shell right in the feed, ensuring a steady supply of calcium. This, combined with key vitamins and minerals, covers all the essential bases for the average backyard hen.
The pellet form is another major advantage. Chickens are notorious for picking through mash or crumble feeds, eating their favorite bits and leaving essential nutrients behind. Pellets ensure that every peck delivers a complete, balanced bite, which drastically reduces waste and guarantees your hens are getting the nutrition you’re paying for.
Nutrena NatureWise Layer for Natural Nutrition
Nutrena takes a slightly more holistic approach with its NatureWise line. While it delivers the same core 16% protein and essential calcium, it’s packed with extras aimed at overall bird health. You’ll find prebiotics and probiotics in the ingredient list, which are included to support a healthy digestive tract.
A healthy gut is critical for nutrient absorption. It doesn’t matter how good the feed is if a hen can’t properly process it. By supporting her digestive system, you’re indirectly boosting her ability to utilize the calcium and vitamins needed for shell production.
Many users also swear by the inclusion of yucca schidigera extract, which helps reduce the ammonia smell in their droppings. This makes for a more pleasant coop environment for both you and your birds. It’s a premium feed with a slightly higher price tag, but the focus on gut health and natural additives is a trade-off many flock owners are happy to make.
Scratch and Peck Organic for Soy-Free Flocks
For the flock owner committed to organic practices or dealing with soy sensitivities, Scratch and Peck is the gold standard. This feed is USDA Certified Organic and GMO-free, but its biggest differentiator is that it’s typically soy-free, using peas and other legumes for protein instead.
This is a whole-grain feed, often arriving as a "mash" or "whole grain" mix rather than a uniform pellet. This encourages more natural foraging behavior, as the birds have to work a bit more for their food. The downside is potential for selective feeding, so it’s crucial to make sure your hens are cleaning up their feeders and not just picking out the corn.
This is a premium product with a premium price. It’s not the practical choice for everyone, but if you’re selling certified organic eggs or have specific dietary goals for your flock, Scratch and Peck provides a level of quality and ingredient transparency that is hard to beat.
Kalmbach Henhouse Reserve for Superior Yolks
Kalmbach’s Henhouse Reserve is for the farmer who wants an egg that looks as good as it tastes. While fully balanced for shell strength with 17% protein and a solid calcium profile, its real claim to fame is what it does for the inside of the egg.
This feed is loaded with a proprietary blend of marigold extract, paprika, and other natural ingredients. These aren’t just for show; they are rich in xanthophylls, the pigments that give egg yolks their deep, vibrant orange color. It also often includes sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, like flaxseed, to boost the nutritional value of the eggs.
Think of this as the "gourmet" option. It produces an egg with a strong shell, a firm white, and a yolk so rich it stands up tall in the pan. If you sell your eggs at a farmers market, the visual appeal alone can command a higher price and create loyal customers.
Manna Pro Layer Pellets for Digestive Health
Manna Pro is another long-standing, trusted name in the feed business. Their layer pellets are a straightforward, no-nonsense option that places a strong emphasis on digestibility. Like some of the other premium brands, they understand that what happens inside the hen is just as important as the ingredients themselves.
Their formula is fortified with probiotics, specifically to support gut flora and immune health. A flock with a robust digestive system is better equipped to handle stress from weather changes, predators, or the introduction of new birds. This resilience translates directly into more consistent laying and better overall health.
This feed is a great middle-ground choice. It offers some of the advanced gut-health benefits of more expensive feeds but is often priced more competitively, making it an excellent value for the hobby farmer who wants a little something extra without breaking the bank.
DuMOR Layer Crumble: A Reliable Budget Choice
Found exclusively at Tractor Supply, DuMOR is the go-to brand for many farmers looking for a reliable, cost-effective feed. It meets all the nutritional requirements for a laying hen—16% protein, adequate calcium, and essential vitamins—without any of the fancy, and costly, additives.
It’s often sold as a crumble, which can be beneficial for younger hens just starting to lay or for mixed flocks that include smaller bantam breeds. The smaller particle size is easier for them to eat. However, crumbles are dustier and can lead to more waste from both spillage and selective feeding than pellets.
Let’s be clear: this is a budget feed, but it is not a bad feed. It provides everything your hens need to be healthy and productive. For the farmer managing costs for a larger backyard flock, DuMOR gets the job done reliably and affordably.
Supplementing Feed for Extra Shell Strength
Even the best complete layer feed can’t always meet the peak demands of every single hen in your flock. High-producing breeds, older hens, or birds going through a period of stress may need an extra boost. This is where smart supplementation comes in.
The most important supplement is free-choice oyster shell. This is not a suggestion; it’s a requirement. Keep a separate hopper or dish filled with crushed oyster shell at all times. Hens are brilliant at self-regulating their calcium intake; they will eat it when their bodies tell them they need it, ensuring they have the raw material for shell production without overloading their systems.
You can also feed back crushed eggshells, but you must bake them in the oven first to kill any potential bacteria and make them brittle. Never mix calcium supplements directly into the feed. Providing it on the side allows each hen to take what she needs, preventing others from consuming too much, which can cause its own set of health problems.
Ultimately, the best feed is the one that works for your flock, your budget, and your goals. Whether you choose a dependable classic or a premium organic blend, pay attention to the results. The proof isn’t on the feed bag—it’s in the nesting box, in the form of a clean, strong, and perfect egg.
