Red Hen products contain high quality natural ingredients that are inspected upon arrival at our feed mill to ensure that they meet our exacting standards.
These ingredients then undergo strict quality control procedures during the blending and packaging process to ensure Red Hen products are of consistent high quality.

The amount of food eaten by poultry is influenced by a number of factors such as the energy content of the food, bird body size, environmental temperature, number of eggs laid or rate of weight gain. Generally the higher the energy content of a food the less food that will be consumed as poultry tend to eat food to meet their energy requirement.
The high energy levels of Red Hen products result in less food being required to achieve the same energy intake and performance. Less Red Hen is required than if feeding a low energy food which can result in considerable cost savings.

Linoleic acid is an Omega 6 fatty acid that is essential in layer diets to ensure large egg size. Red Hen Layer and Free Range Layer are formulated to contain a minimum of 1% linoleic acid which is consistent with the recommendations of the respected National Research Council, USA.

Hens will enjoy eating fresh household food scraps, grass and lawn clippings but it may be necessary to restrict access to these in order to prevent nutritional imbalances. Access to green grass which contains natural colouring pigments will enhance egg yolk colour and produce a rich and attractive yolk.

Laying hens have a natural response to day length that affects the number of eggs laid. During autumn and early winter, when days are getting shorter, hens will tend to lay fewer eggs or may stop laying altogether and go into a moult.
A moult is a naturally occurring cycle that all hens go through a number of times during their life. During a moult a hen will stop laying, shed a large amount of its old feathers and replace them with new feathers. When the moult has finished the hen will start a new cycle of lay. This is why egg production is normally greater during spring.
This natural cycle can be altered by creating a constant day length. By lighting the hen house to create a constant "day length" (approximately 16 hours) it is possible to prevent hens from decreasing their production during autumn and winter. A simple household timer can be used to turn the lights on and off automatically.
For more detailed information in regard to day length and moulting please contact our technical personnel or email lauckemills@lauckemills.com.au

Protein is an essential nutrient that is required by poultry for growth and egg production, but all protein is not the same. The protein level of a food can be a misleading indicator of how well that food will perform its intended job as the quality of the protein can vary a great deal. Protein is made up of amino acids which need to be in the correct ratio to each other (balanced) if the protein is to be fully utilised. The main amino acids that need to be supplied in a diet for laying or growing poultry at the correct balance are methionine, cystine, lysine, threonine and tryptophan. If any of these amino acids are in short supply the performance of the food will be limited.
In fact, an unbalanced 20% protein diet will not perform as well as a balanced 15% diet. Red Hen Layer, Free Range Layer, Chick, Pullet and Meat Bird feeds contain balanced protein to achieve high rates of lay, large egg size and strong and healthy growth.

Farm trial work has shown that poultry have a distinct preference for the clean coarse texture of Red Hen grain mixes over more common feed types such as pellets and mash.

Red Hen products contain shell grit and/or marble chips which are natural sources of calcium necessary for the formation of egg shell and strong bone development.

Red Hen products do not contain antibiotics, hormones, artificial colours or flavours.
Due to the current trends away from the use of antibiotics in animal feeds all Red Hen products are antibiotic free. If health problems occur it is recommended that antibiotics be administered on a need to use basis.
The main disease likely to occur in domestic poultry is coccidiosis. This disease occurs in the intestines of young growing poultry. It is caused by a microscopic parasite which can build up in the poultry shed, especially in warm, damp and crowded conditions. Symptoms of a coccidiosis outbreak are bloody droppings, poor growth, decreased feed intake, weight loss and death.
If coccidiosis should occur it will be necessary to treat the birds to ensure health is maintained and deaths are minimised. Water medications are available to control coccidiosis outbreaks.
Please contact your veterinarian or email lauckemills@lauckemills.com.au for further information on coccidiosis control.

FEED WASTAGE
Feed wastage can be a costly problem. To reduce feed wastage it is recommended that a feeder be used that prohibits the hens from scratching feed onto the ground. Also, hens will often tend to flick feed out of the feeder with their beak, to reduce this problem raise the height of the feeder to about head height. Position the feeder as high as possible but still allow easy access.
Due to the natural texture of Red Hen grain mixes birds will tend to eat the most attractive portions first and leave the least attractive until last. If self feeders are used it is not uncommon for birds to empty the feeder chasing the most desirable portion. To stop this messy habit it is recommended that Red Hen grain mixes be fed on a daily basis and the birds made to eat the majority of the daily ration before replenishing the feeders.
HOUSING
Hens should be kept in a clean, dry, draught free hen house, preferably with an outside run. Protection from the elements and a comfortable environment are important for overall health and egg production.
Due to a hen’s preference to roost at night it is recommended that the hen-house be fitted with perches. Nesting boxes lined with a suitable material such as straw or shell grit should be provided so that eggs can be kept clean and dry.
PARASITES
Check hens regularly for parasites such as lice and mites, and if detected treat accordingly. A number of treatments should be available from your local fodder or produce store.

Red Hen Chick, Meatbird, Layer & Free Range Layer contain the following;
Vitamins: A, D3, E, K, B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B6 (pyridoxine), B12, niacin, pantothenic acid, folic acid, biotin and choline.
Minerals: Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, cobalt, copper, iron, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.
Red Hen Pullet
Vitamins: A, D3, E, K, B2 (riboflavin), B12, niacin, pantothenic acid and choline.
Minerals: Calcium, phosphorus, sodium, chloride, cobalt, copper, iron, iodine, manganese, molybdenum, selenium and zinc.
Red Hen Free Range Scratch Grain Mix
Minerals: Calcium.

Red Hen feeds** are formulated from a selection of the following ingredients:
Wheat, triticale, corn, barley, oats, sorghum, rice, lupins, peas, beans, sunflower, canola, soy, safflower and grain by-products derived from these ingredients. Meat & bone meal, blood meal, fish meal, oils, fats, shell grit, marble, dicalcium phosphate, rock phosphate, salt, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.

**Red Hen Free Range does not contain animal products.

The following recommendations give a general indication of when the various Red Hen diets may be fed to different types of poultry. In some instances it may be necessary to feed small birds the Chick diet a little longer than recommended until they are ready to consume the larger size of the Pullet or Meat Bird food.