Barastoc Top Layer Mash: Premium Complete Feed for Laying Hens Barastoc Top Layer is a nutritious, balanced and complete premium mash feed with higher levels of the nutrients laying hens need. It sits above the everyday layer feeds in the Barastoc range, formulated to maximise egg production for laying birds of all breeds in a home flock. The headline difference is protein. At a minimum 16.5% crude protein, Top Layer runs higher than a standard everyday layer feed, which helps your hen reach her actual laying potential rather than just ticking over. It also carries higher levels of added copper and selenium, and it's fortified with bio-available calcium and phosphorus to give her the building blocks for strong eggshells. Why Mash Top Layer is a mash, an assortment of cracked and milled ingredients presented loose rather than pressed into a pellet. That texture is the point. Hens get to pick through it, which encourages natural foraging behaviour, the scratching and sorting they'd do in the wild, and the blend also enhances yolk colour. Mash tends to suit mixed-breed flocks well, since birds of different sizes and preferences can each take what they want from it. One thing worth knowing: because hens can pick through a mash, you need enough feeder space for the whole flock. Otherwise the dominant birds eat the bits they like first and the quieter hens get what's left, which can lead to uneven nutrition across the flock. Mash can also attract wild birds to an open feeder, so a covered or well-designed feeder helps. Top Layer can be fed dry, or mixed with hot water to make a warm mash, which chooks love on cold mornings. Ingredients Cereal grains and their by-products, legumes and their by-products, vegetable protein meals, fats and oils, calcium carbonate, di-calcium phosphate, Ridley layer vitamin and mineral premix, and essential amino acids and enzymes. Nutrient Levels (Typical Analysis as Fed / kg) Min crude protein: 16.5% Min crude fat: 2.5% Max crude fibre: 10.0% Max added salt: 0.3% Min calcium: 4.0% Min available phosphorus: 0.4% Min added copper: 10.0 mg/kg Min added selenium: 0.3 mg/kg Feeding Guide Expected adult feed intake is around 120 g per bird per day. Keep feed continuously available rather than restricting it, a poultry self-feeder is the easiest way to manage this, and make sure there's enough feeder space that every bird can eat. Always provide clean, fresh water, since hens drink roughly twice as much water as they eat in feed, and feed intake drops without it. Top Layer should make up the majority of the daily diet to keep nutrition balanced. Green scraps, pasture and hay can be offered, but only in small amounts. If you're switching feeds, mix the new in with the old and phase the change over 5 to 7 days, hens are sensitive to texture changes, so a gradual switch cuts down on rejection and waste. Key Features & Benefits Premium complete mash feed with higher nutrient levels for laying hens Minimum 16.5% crude protein to support strong, consistent laying Bio-available calcium and phosphorus for stronger eggshells Higher added copper and selenium than everyday layer feeds Cracked and milled ingredients encourage natural foraging behaviour Enhances yolk colour Suits mixed-breed home flocks Can be fed dry or mixed with hot water as a warm mash Available in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg and 20kg Frequently Asked Questions How much Top Layer should I feed my hens?Expected adult intake is around 120 g per bird per day. Don't restrict feed, keep it continuously available with a self-feeder, and make sure clean fresh water is always on hand. What's the difference between Top Layer and Golden Yolk?Golden Yolk is the everyday layer pellet, while Top Layer is a premium mash with a higher nutritional platform, including more protein (16.5% vs 15%) and higher copper and selenium. Top Layer also comes as a loose mash rather than a pellet, which encourages foraging and lifts yolk colour. What's the difference between mash and pellets?In a pellet, every mouthful is identical, so hens can't pick and choose. In a mash, they can sort through the cracked and milled ingredients, which encourages natural foraging behaviour. The trade-off is that you need enough feeder space so dominant hens don't take the best bits and leave the rest. Does Top Layer improve yolk colour?Yes. The blend of cracked and milled ingredients is formulated to enhance yolk colour, along with supporting overall laying performance. Can I mix it with water?Yes. Top Layer can be fed dry or mixed with hot water to make a warm mash, which is a popular treat on cold mornings. Can I feed scraps and greens too?Only in small amounts. Top Layer needs to make up the majority of the daily diet, otherwise you dilute the protein, calcium and vitamins your hens need, and it usually shows up in shell quality and lay rate. How do I switch my hens onto Top Layer?Mix it with their current feed and phase the old one out over 5 to 7 days. Hens react strongly to texture changes, so a gradual transition means less rejection and waste. What sizes does it come in?It's available in 1kg, 2kg, 4kg and 20kg, with the 20kg bag suited to regular feeding and larger flocks.
