Rye can be gradually introduced after six weeks of age and used as half of the grain in laying hen diets. Rye containing ergot cannot be used. Some screenings contain weed seeds that can cause off colours and flavours in eggs. Grain can be fed to poultry in pelleted, ground or whole form. Whole wheat, barley and oats have been successfully used with poultry.
Peas also contain some anti-nutritional factors that can interfere with digestion.
Poultry poorly digest the protein and fiber in grasses and legume hays. They can extract some vitamins but not enough to meet their requirements. Providing grit does not significantly improve the digestibility of these roughages. Feeding alflalfa or grasses will darken egg yolks. Use a coccidiostat in the starter and grower.