Why Your Hens Stop Laying (and How Nutrition Helps)

Few things are more rewarding than gathering fresh eggs each morning when raising chickens. But if you've noticed a dip in your hens' laying or shell quality, you might wonder: Is my flock getting the nutrition they need?

Veteran chicken owners know that egg production naturally has its ups and downs. Even with good care, birds sometimes face challenges during stress, molting, or seasonal changes. The key to steady, high-quality egg production isn't trial-and-error with supplements; it's providing a complete feed that already contains the right balance of vitamins and minerals. With carefully formulated poultry feed from Kalmbach Feeds®, your flock gets everything they need in every bite!

Why Proper Nutrition Matters for Chicken Egg Production

Feeding your hens a nutritionally complete diet may seem simple, but it can significantly impact their health and your egg basket. Here's why:

Boost Overall Hen Health

Just like humans, chickens need a full range of vitamins to function at their best. A complete feed supports immune systems, energy levels, and overall vitality. Birds fed balanced diets stay more resilient against common poultry challenges.

Improve Egg Shell Quality

Thin or soft shells are often linked to nutrient imbalances. A chicken feed with calcium and vitamins D and E ensures stronger shells, improving egg safety and quality. Nobody wants to deal with cracked eggs in the nesting box!

Support Consistent Egg Laying

Egg production can slow for many reasons, like the weather or the time of year. Vitamin A, delivered in the right amounts through a balanced layer feed, keeps hens laying more reliably throughout their productive years.

Combat Environmental Stress

Heat, cold, molting, and coop changes can challenge your flock. A high-quality feed ensures hens receive supportive nutrients, reduces stress, and maintains steady production even during difficult times.

Aid Recovery During and After Molting

Molting naturally interrupts egg production. With the proper nutrition, hens recover quickly, rebuild feathers, and return to laying sooner. A complete feed takes the guesswork out of supporting birds during this demanding season.

What Vitamins Can Support Healthy Egg Production in Chickens?

There's a lot of science behind chicken nutrition, but you don't have to be an expert to understand what your flock needs. Here are some of the most important vitamins for egg production:

Vitamin A

Supports vision, skin health, and immune response. Birds on complete feeds with adequate vitamin A show brighter combs and better reproductive function.

Vitamin D

Vitamin D helps hens absorb calcium and build stronger shells. Even if your flock has access to calcium, without Vitamin D in their diet, they can't use it properly.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that improves immune function and reproductive health. It also helps prevent fatty liver issues that can seriously impact laying performance. 

B Vitamins (B1, B2, B6, B12, Niacin, Biotin, Folic Acid)

These keep energy levels up, support metabolism, and are vital for nervous system function. They also play a role in shell formation and overall egg quality.

By relying on a complete feed, you avoid the risks of adding too much (or too little) of any one vitamin. The Kalmbach Feeds poultry formulation is designed to provide exactly what your hens need for peak performance.

Key Benefits of a Complete Feed for Egg Production

While supplements help, nothing beats a balanced, complete feed designed for layers. It's the easiest way to ensure your flock gets all the necessary nutrients: no guesswork required! Kalmbach’s poultry feeds are special in many ways. Chickens fed with Kalmbach products laid between 35% and 120% more eggs than birds on other products!

Balanced Nutrients in Every Bite

With a complete feed, every peck delivers the ideal blend of protein, vitamins, minerals, and energy. It simplifies feeding and helps avoid nutritional gaps that can hurt production.

Designed for Peak Performance

Feeds containing Kalmbach Feeds’ Yolk Proud® supplement are formulated to enhance yolk color and egg quality using natural ingredients like marigold and paprika. Your eggs will have that beautiful, golden color that makes them stand out.

Support from LifeGuard® Technology

Kalmbach Feeds’ LifeGuard® Poultry Supplement is a proprietary blend of prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils, and enzymes that support digestive, immune, and health function. It supports gut health, immune response, and overall productivity, so Kalmbach Feeds incorporates LifeGuard into many of our chicken products. 

Consistency and Peace of Mind

Feeding a complete product means you don't have to mix, measure, or worry. It ensures your hens get what they need to stay strong, lay consistently, and live well throughout their productive years.

Discover Quality Chicken Feed and Supplements from Kalmbach

Your neighbors at Kalmbach Feeds know that healthier hens lay better eggs. That's why we offer a complete line of poultry feeds and supplements that deliver on nutrition, quality, and performance.

Whether you want a premium layer feed with Yolk Proud®, a product powered by LifeGuard® Technology, or simply a dependable ration to keep your flock thriving, you'll find the right solution here. Our family-owned company has supported poultry farmers for generations, and we understand what it takes to keep your birds happy, healthy, and productive.

Resources

• https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pnw-477-how-feed-your-laying-hens   
  
• https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C954&title=nutrition-for-the-backyard-flock