What is the best food for hens?

From the time the new chicks leave the shell they should be given a chick starter food. This is available either in medicated or un-medicated form. The chick starter is small pre-ground and easily digestible. At about 2 months a small amount of chick grower can be added and increased each day until the birds are off the chick starter and eating only the grower. At about 4 months and close to laying the hens should be given layer MASH/pellets to prepare them for egg production. They can stay of the layer feed for the rest of their lives unless the extra cost of layer is prohibative (about $2.00 per 80lbs). Hens will survive quite well on chicken scratch but during the prime egg years they need the extra calcium and proteins in the layer feed.