❗ The following is my opinions and what I have found through my research.  I suggest doing research and making the best decisions for your family and farm. ❗

Lets talk feed. There is a lot going on in the world about feed and if changes have been made to existing brands or why chickens aren't laying the way they use to. So let's dive into a few facts to start with.

1-Chickens will only lay the amount of eggs they are genetically predisposition to lay. They will not lay more or less than what their breed states they will lay. No feed or vitamins will change that.

2-Chickens require the proper nutrients, heat and lighting to lay good eggs. Chickens do have a season when it comes to laying. 

3-Land O Lakes is the parent company to Purina feeds in the US. Producers Pride (PP) is a Tractor Supply store brand. 

Now onto the fun stuff that may trigger people into a full riot. 

I do not think Purina or PP have reformulated their feed. I just think their feed is garbage and in winter months, it's more apparent than during the months that chickens naturally lay. Again, just my opinion. Purina has never had the proper levels of vitamin K3 or vitamin  A that I look for when I am choosing a feed that best suits my flock of birds. They have the proper protein amounts that they advertise but it takes more than protein for a hen to produce viable eggs. Have you ever seen a chicken lay an egg that doesn't have a shell? I have and while mildly amusing to play with for a moment, it tells me that something is missing from my feed. I also don't think that the well renowned butter company located in Missouri can really speak to me on what my birds need in SE Texas. Our weather conditions and natural vegetation just are not the same. 

Now PP whose parent company is TSC sells the cheapest feed available nationwide. Well, there is a simple reason for that. The same way most people but Great Value vs. Kraft. It gets the job done cheaper, but doesn't always taste quite the same. 

Onto what I use- I use M-G feed and I mix in some diatomaceous earth food grade (DE). I do like Kalmbach feed but it isn't readily available in my area. M-G is located in Weimar, TX. If you would like to read the history of this company you can click the link below and read about them. M-G is a Texas company who knows what TX farmers need when feeding their animals. No this isn't sponsored. This is just a company that I stand behind and think they sell quality feed. 

DE food grade- Why do I add this? It is natural. It's perfectly healthy for humans and all animals. I spray my coops and the property around my house with DE. It is a fossilized algae from the ocean that helps keep mites away, kills fleas, kills lice and makes for a wonderful dust bath. Now, you don't want your birds to inhale DE directly but eating it and letting them take dust bathes in it is an all natural pest control. In short, using diatomaceous earth for chickens in place of other external parasite preventatives means you’re cutting down on unnecessary chemical usage and allowing your chickens to care for themselves naturally. 

I really want everyone to please do their research on all the feed options they have available. What works for me and my flock, doesn't mean it is guaranteed to work for you. I have linked M-G below. 

Y'all stay busy!  ~Dey