- Manna Pro vs Kalmbach layer feed: Manna Pro’s layer pellets and crumbles list 16% protein and come in two 8 lb bags; Kalmbach’s standard layer pellets and crumbles come in 25 lb bags, and their listings don’t state the protein percentage.
- Kalmbach adds an organic 17% layer crumble (35 lb) and a non-GMO 20% Flock Maker all-flock crumble (50 lb) that the maker says meets the niacin needs of ducks and geese.
- Neither set of listings gives the full guaranteed analysis (calcium, phosphorus, fat, fiber). Read the feed tag on the bag before you buy.
- At about ¼ lb per hen per day (extension figure), six hens eat 16 lb in about 10 days and 25 lb in about 16 days.
Manna Pro vs Kalmbach layer feed is a real choice for small flocks: both brands sell complete layer rations in pellets and crumbles, and both offer extras such as all-flock and organic feeds. The biggest practical difference is bag size. Manna Pro sells its layer feeds in small 8 lb bags; Kalmbach sells 25 to 50 lb sacks.
This comparison sticks to what each listing states: protein percentage, form, additives and bag size. We copy those figures exactly, and where a listing does not give a number we write “not listed” instead of filling it in from memory. The printed feed tag on the bag is the legal guaranteed analysis, so check it at purchase. We did not feed these rations to a flock, and nothing here is a health or egg-production promise.
Manna Pro
16% layer pellets and crumbles with probiotics in small 8 lb bags, plus grit and oyster shell
Browse
Kalmbach Feeds
Layer pellets and crumbles in 25 lb bags, an organic 17% crumble and a 20% non-GMO all-flock feed
BrowsePicks from each side
Manna Pro
Manna Pro 16% Layer Pellets with Probiotics, 8 lb x2
- Type
- Layer pellets
- Bag size
- 8 lb, pack of 2
- Protein %
- 16%
Best for Small flocks buying feed in small bags
Manna Pro 16% Layer Crumbles with Probiotics, 8 lb x2
- Type
- Layer crumbles
- Bag size
- 8 lb, pack of 2
- Protein %
- 16%
Best for Small flocks preferring crumbles
Manna Pro Oyster Shell & Poultry Grit Bundle
- Type
- Pullet-size oyster shell plus granite grit
- Size
- 5 lb packs (6-pack bundle)
- Calcium %
- Not listed
Best for Stocking up on layer supplements
Manna Pro 7-Grain Scratch + All Flock Crumbles Bundle
- Type
- Scratch grains plus all-flock crumbles
- Bag size
- 10 lb scratch + 8 lb crumbles
Best for Mixed flocks trying both
Kalmbach Feeds
Kalmbach Feeds Layer Pellets, 25 lb
- Type
- Layer pellets
- Bag size
- 25 lb
- Medicated?
- Antibiotic free
Best for Everyday laying-hen feed
Kalmbach Feeds Layer Crumbles, 25 lb
- Type
- Layer crumbles
- Bag size
- 25 lb
- Medicated?
- Antibiotic free
Best for Hens that prefer crumbles
Kalmbach Organic 17% Layer Crumbles, 35 lb
- Type
- Layer crumbles (organic)
- Bag size
- 35 lb
- Protein %
- 17%
Best for Organic-fed laying flocks
Kalmbach Non-GMO Flock Maker 20% Crumble, 50 lb
- Type
- All-flock crumbles
- Bag size
- 50 lb
- Protein %
- 20%
Best for Mixed flocks with ducks or geese
Manna Pro vs Kalmbach layer feed: the label facts
What each listing states
| Feed | Form | Protein (as listed) | Bag (as listed) | Other listed facts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manna Pro 16% Layer Pellets with Probiotics | Pellets | 16% | 8 lb × 2 | Probiotics; omega-3; extra calcium; no antibiotics, artificial colors or flavors |
| Manna Pro 16% Layer Crumbles with Probiotics | Crumbles | 16% | 8 lb × 2 | Probiotics; vitamins and minerals including calcium; made in USA |
| Kalmbach Feeds Layer Pellets | Pellets | Not listed | 25 lb | High-quality grains and proteins; antibiotic free; added vitamins and minerals |
| Kalmbach Feeds Layer Crumbles | Crumbles | Not listed | 25 lb | Antibiotic free; added vitamins and minerals |
| Kalmbach Organic 17 Layer Crumbles | Crumbles | 17% (title) | 35 lb | Organic; no further detail in the listing |
| Kalmbach Non-GMO Flock Maker 20% | Crumbles (all-flock) | 20% | 50 lb | LifeGuard blend of prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils, enzymes; vitamins A and E; meets niacin needs of ducks and geese; Non-GMO Project Verified |
Source: Manna Pro and Kalmbach Feeds product listings
Listed specs
| Product | Type | Protein % | Bag size | Medicated? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manna Pro 16% Layer Pellets with Probiotics, 8 lb x2 | Layer pellets | 16% | 8 lb, pack of 2 | — |
| Manna Pro 16% Layer Crumbles with Probiotics, 8 lb x2 | Layer crumbles | 16% | 8 lb, pack of 2 | — |
| Kalmbach Feeds Layer Pellets, 25 lb | Layer pellets | — | 25 lb | Antibiotic free |
| Kalmbach Feeds Layer Crumbles, 25 lb | Layer crumbles | — | 25 lb | Antibiotic free |
| Kalmbach Organic 17% Layer Crumbles, 35 lb | Layer crumbles (organic) | 17% | 35 lb | — |
| Kalmbach Non-GMO Flock Maker 20% Crumble, 50 lb | All-flock crumbles | 20% | 50 lb | — |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Protein and bag size, charted
Only four of the six feeds list a protein figure. The chart shows them as stated; Kalmbach’s standard layer pellets and crumbles are left out because their listings give no percentage.
Listed crude protein
Percent, as stated on each listing
Bag size changes how often you buy and how fresh the feed is when it runs out. Extension figures put a laying hen at about ¼ lb of feed a day (Alabama), ¼–⅓ lb (Mississippi State), or roughly 3 lb a week for a 6 lb hen (University of Minnesota), with up to 25% more in cold weather (UMN).
Days one purchase lasts six hens
At ¼ lb per hen per day, rounded down; cold weather shortens this
Pellets or crumbles?
Both brands sell their layer feed as pellets and as crumbles, so you can pick the form your hens prefer without changing brand. Pellets are compressed feed; crumbles are pellets broken into smaller pieces. Whatever the form, the feed tag tells you whether the formula is the same.
Switch feeds gradually by mixing the old and new over several days, and set the feeder so the lip is level with the hens’ backs, which Penn State Extension says reduces waste. See treadle vs hanging feeders for setup.
Layer feed, all-flock feed and supplements
Layer feeds are formulated and labeled for hens that are laying. Chicks and young pullets need a starter or grower labeled for them; Manna Pro sells a chick starter bundle, and Kalmbach an organic starter-grower that it describes for meat-type birds. Follow the feed tag on when to switch.
Kalmbach’s Flock Maker is an all-flock crumble at 20% protein for mixed poultry, and Kalmbach states it meets the niacin requirements of ducks and geese. All-flock feeds are not labeled as layer rations, so if your hens eat one, check the tag for calcium and offer oyster shell on the side. University of Minnesota Extension says a laying hen’s diet should also contain crushed oyster shell for egg production and grit for digestion.
Manna Pro Oyster Shell & Poultry Grit Bundle
- Type
- Pullet-size oyster shell plus granite grit
- Size
- 5 lb packs (6-pack bundle)
- Calcium %
- Not listed
Best for Stocking up on layer supplements
Manna Pro Chick Starter 5 lb + Chick Grit 5 lb Bundle
- Type
- Chick starter plus chick grit
- Bag size
- 5 lb + 5 lb
- Medicated?
- Without antibiotics or medications
Best for New chicks and ducklings
Treats and scratch dilute a complete feed. UMN says scratch grains are fine in moderation but don’t meet all nutritional needs, and Purina’s guidance is to keep treats at 10% or less of a hen’s diet. Manna Pro’s scratch-and-crumbles bundle is a handy pairing if you remember that rule.
Who should choose Manna Pro, and who Kalmbach?
Manna Pro fits if you…
- keep two to four hens and want feed that is used up quickly (16 lb lasts four hens about 16 days at ¼ lb a day);
- want a stated 16% protein on the listing;
- store feed indoors and prefer small, light bags;
- want probiotics and omega-3 listed on the bag (as listed, not a health claim).
Kalmbach fits if you…
- keep six or more hens and want fewer purchases;
- want an organic layer crumble (Organic 17, 35 lb);
- keep ducks or geese with chickens and want a 20% non-GMO all-flock feed with listed niacin for waterfowl;
- have dry, rodent-proof storage for 25–50 lb bags.
Mistakes to avoid
- Buying more than you can use fresh. Size bags so feed is used within a few weeks; store it dry, cool and sealed from rodents.
- Comparing protein only. Calcium, fat and fiber matter too, and they are on the tag, not the listings.
- Feeding layer feed to chicks. Use a starter labeled for chicks until the tag says to switch.
- Skipping oyster shell with all-flock feed. Offer it free choice to laying hens.
- Letting treats crowd out feed. Keep treats small; see mealworms vs BSF larvae.
- Reading a medicated label wrong. These layer feeds are listed as antibiotic free. If you ever use a medicated feed or water additive, use it per the label and follow its egg-withdrawal time.
For more brands, including Purina, Scratch and Peck and Mile Four, see best layer feed and the feed and supplements category. If laying slows, read why chickens stop laying: daylight, molt and age matter as much as feed.
For a small flock that values freshness and a stated protein figure, Manna Pro’s 16% layer pellets or crumbles in 8 lb bags are the easy choice. For bigger flocks, organic feeding or mixed flocks with waterfowl, Kalmbach offers larger bags, an organic 17% crumble and the 20% non-GMO Flock Maker. Whichever you choose, read the feed tag for the full guaranteed analysis and keep oyster shell available for laying hens.
Questions
Is Manna Pro or Kalmbach layer feed better?
What protein is Kalmbach layer feed?
Is Manna Pro layer feed medicated?
How much layer feed does a chicken eat a day?
Can ducks eat Kalmbach Flock Maker?
Do hens on layer feed need oyster shell?
Sources
- Alabama Cooperative Extension, Nutrition for backyard chicken flocks (ANR-1317)
- Mississippi State University Extension, Feeds and nutrition
- University of Minnesota Extension, Raising chickens for eggs
- University of Minnesota Extension, Caring for chickens in cold weather
- Penn State Extension, Management requirements for laying flocks
- Purina, Chicken treats: are they good for my laying hens?