Laying hens is a common term for a female, grown chicken that is kept primarily for laying eggs. Some chickens are raised for meat, while others are raised to produce eggs, and some are dual-purpose.

The main cost of producing egg is related to the supply of feed for laying hens. Therefore, this factor causes differences in the economic aspects of laying hen growth in different area.

In general, the environment or chicken coop, that are kept laying hens, are chosen and managed based on degree of control of environmental conditions. In xerothermic climate the halls are usually designed completely open. In this way, airflow has best effect, but it causes unsuitable exposure, and indoor temperature of halls is exactly reflection of the outside temperature. Your chicken coop needs enough light, usually set on a timer, to mature your pullets to lay eggs and keep your hens producing throughout the year. If you live in a cold climate, you'll need to make sure that your laying hens are set up to be comfortable through the winter.

There are a lot of factors that are affect feed intake and protein requirements of laying hens; these factors include the following:

Chicken size

Temperature

Lighting

Feed and water factors

Physical form of feed

Feed flavour

Anti-nutritional factor

Feed-wastage

Water supply

Body factors

Genes and hormones

The amount of energy

Layer feed are formulated for chickens that are laying table eggs. Layer feeds contain about 16 percent protein and extra calcium so the chickens will lay eggs with strong shells. Start feeding layer feeds at about 20 weeks of age or when the first egg is laid.

 The layer feed should provide a balanced diet with 16 percent to 18 percent protein and approximately 3 1/2 percent calcium to promote strong eggshells. Calcium deficiencies can result in eggs with thin shells and hens with leg issues, so you may want to offer them free-choice oyster shell for extra calcium.