go to free range, stops laying?

[Clementine2022]

Ok, So I finally got a fence up so that my chickens can free range. They seem to have stopped laying or are really good at hiding eggs. I'm in Florida. Egg productions slows down a little with less light, but not like I'm seeing now. What can I do to get them to start laying again? I have 8 hens. I'm lucky to get 1-3 eggs a day. Sometimes there are none. I have searched high and low.

 

[nuthatched]

I'd chalk it up to normal winter break but Are they getting enough of their feed?

 

[Clementine2022]

I'd chalk it up to normal winter break but Are they getting enough of their feed?

yes, 9 chickens go through 100 lbs of feed a month. I give kitchen scraps, fresh fruit, and scratch as well. They are spoiled rotten! lol If I open the door they come running because they think I'm bring treats. When I don't bring treats, my rooster will come after me. He's a character. Good ole Clementine. His fav is yogurt covered raisins. I limit those and they eat those from my hand.

 

[aart]

9 chickens go through 100 lbs of feed a month.

That's crazy...you're feeding something else or they're spilling beuacoup amounts on the ground.

How old are these birds, in months?
Did the egg production drop abruptly as soon as you started ranging?

 

[nuthatched]

yes, 9 chickens go through 100 lbs of feed a month. I give kitchen scraps, fresh fruit, and scratch as well. They are spoiled rotten! lol If I open the door they come running because they think I'm bring treats. When I don't bring treats, my rooster will come after me. He's a character. Good ole Clementine. His fav is yogurt covered raisins. I limit those and they eat those from my hand.

You should be only going through around 65lbs a month, do you have little birds? Or spilling? something is going on

 

[Clementine2022]

You should be only going through around 65lbs a month, do you have little birds? Or spilling? something is going on

Probably spilling. I have Orphingtons, Easter Eggers, PRB and one Speckled Sussex. She got mixed in with the EEs. Lol

 

[nuthatched]

Probably spilling. I have Orphingtons, Easter Eggers, PRB and one Speckled Sussex. She got mixed in with the EEs. Lol

Try a hog pan under the feeder to control the spills. :]