Allen & Page's Free Range Layers Pellets Feed - heres a bit of info about it!

What makes Natural Free Range Layers Pellets different?

For a truly non-GM and Vegetarian feed, Smallholder Feeds promise the best you can get with their Natural Free Range Layers Pellets. Completely different from any other feeds available, the Smallholder Range has the unique status of being Vegetarian Society Approved.

It is possible to formulate cheap layers feeds, but these would often include Hipro Soya – this has been processed using hexane - a potentially carcinogenic distilled petrol product – to extract the soya oil from it. When used, residues of hexane are left in the oil, causing a bitter smell and because the oil is heated more than once during the process, the quality is much diminished. Smallholder Feeds only include non-GM soya, non-solvent extracted soya, rather than any of the cheaper alternatives such as High Protein Soya or Brazilian Soya.

The type of oil included in a layers feed can also make a huge difference to the quality of the egg and the health of your birds. Smallholder Feeds only use a virgin pressed soya oil – again not extracted using the solvent hexane – from non-GM soya. This is preferable to the blended vegetable oils or mixed fats used as a cheaper alternative. Linseed is also included in Natural Free Range Layers Pellets, and this combination of Omega 6 and Omega 3 oils can not only ensure a healthier bird, but also produce a better egg. The same oils are used by producers of ‘healthier eggs’ which have been shown to lower cholestrol in humans.

Binders in the form of by-products from the wood, paper and hardboard manufacturing industry are often used to make a more durable pellet. Smallholder Feeds do not believe in such practices, or in the use of artificial yolk pigmenters. Instead, real ground marigold gives a rich yellow colour to the yolk as opposed to cheaper ‘nature identical’ products or extracted marigold.

A special blend of vitamins and minerals are included in Smallholder’s Natural Free Range Layers Pellets, targeted specifically to meet the needs of laying hens to provide everything required for a healthy bird and good quality egg. The vegetarian status of this feed is not compromised by the common practice of coating the vitamins with pork gelatine, or by the use of fishmeal (which often results in fishy tasting eggs). To quote the Vegetarian Society: ‘Suitable for Vegetarians? – probably not if it isn’t Vegetarian Society Approved.’

One hen owner enthused: “Smallholder is fantastic food! My Rhode Island red chickens have got the best coats they have ever had and their eggs are of a higher quality.” Josephine Wilson, Essex

So for naturally healthier birds and delicious eggs, feed Natural Free Range Layers Pellets for tangible results you can see and taste.