Homemade Feed for Laying Hens

Laying hens require a diet rich in fat and protein to produce a high volume of eggs. Hens lacking the proper balance of nutrients will produce fewer eggs, and the eggs they do produce will be poor quality. Commercial products are available for laying hens, but they are often too expensive for hobby chicken enthusiasts on a budget. You can make homemade, high-quality chicken feed for your hens with just a few ingredients.

Place the chicken scratch in a bowl, adding enough hot water to cover. Let the chicken scratch absorb the water and turn soft; stir occasionally with a spoon to break up clumps.

Blend the broccoli, carrots, spinach and apples in the food processor until finely chopped. Use the pulse setting on the food processor, or press the power button on and off repeatedly to break up large chunks during chopping. Add the ingredients in small batches, pouring each batch into the bowl with the chicken scratch.

Crack the eggs into the bowl, adding the egg shells to the mixture. Combine all ingredients with the spoon, stirring vigorously to break up the egg shells. Eggs and egg shells provide extra protein and nutrients necessary for proper egg production.

Add the corn oil and vitamins, mixing with the spoon to evenly distribute the vitamins. Poultry vitamins, available at livestock supply stores, add nutrients and minerals that laying hens need to produce the highest-quality eggs. This mixture will keep for up to 1 week in the refrigerator.