7 hens-4 eggs daily?!

[GldnValleyHens]

Hi! I have a mixed flock 7 2 year-old hens, ( BO's, EE's, RIR,BS) who free-range all day and are fed an organic layer's mash with cracked corn and wheat. They have free choice oyster shells too and recently went through a molt in early spring. But for some reason, we are getting barely any eggs, just 4-5 a day. Being summer, they should be laying full production, but no. We don't worm our birds, but they get natural de wormers like pumpkin seeds and garlic, and are all health. I don't believe it is stress, although they were harassed by our friends dog and scared to death. But they were laying poor before that. As of a few days ago they are getting less feed while there is so much food outside, grass, bugs etc, but could that be the problem? One of the hens, a EE is terribly bullied and all the others chase her around and plucked out her fluffy neck, but she is the only one who has cause to be stressed. What is going on here?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Age could be a factor, as well as time of year, generally production drops during summer and picks up slightly in the fall before a molt.

Your girls could be getting deficient in protein, I prefer a higher protein ration than layer, especially if you are going to feed extra lower protein grains. I recommend a ration with 18-22% to offset it. Put out a separate bowl of oyster shells for the calcium needs and switch to something like a non medicated grower or an All Flock ration to optimize laying.

 

[Dawnclucks22]

You mentioned they were free-ranged - this happens to me all the time. I'm not saying this is it for sure, but I think it's worth a try. Look over their free-ranging area as best you can. You may find one of the infamous "secret nests" Currently, I'm working on getting my girls to lay back in the box again and I have to go looking for where they put it. One of my bantams starting molting right after she was broody so we won't be seeing her eggs for a while!

 

[TheKindaFarmGal]

Honestly, that's about what I would expect from seven two year old hens. But there are things you can do like the above posters said.

And, hens do love hiding nests.

 

[lazy gardener]

That's 57 -71% productivity. Are you saying you are adding cracked corn and wheat to their layer mash? Or are you saying that their layer ration has cracked corn and wheat in it? If you are adding it, consider stopping it, and just give them the layer ration. You might consider switching them to an unmedicated starter or a multi flock ration, either of which will be higher protein. Continue the OS on the side. It's expected that productivity will decrease as hens age. But, you may find that their egg size is much larger! Also, at 2 years old, they may be in their second, or even their third laying cycle. Big eggs, most likely, but each successive laying cycle will result in fewer eggs. Your BS may very well be done laying. Overall, your productivity is not bad for 2 year old hens.

 

[aart]

who free-range all day

Lock em up for a week or two...only way to truly tell if more are laying that you think.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 3-4 days (or longer) can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

Thanks for all the advice! I have locked them up and had the same amount of eggs, so I don't think I have any secret nests. Their feed is powdery ground up oats, corn, and wheat. I will try feeding more protein too. Oh, and clarification is that the BS and 1 BO are only a year old, but the BO is laying pretty steadily except for a period when she went broody, but I haven't seen the BS in the nest in a while

 

[Littleholme]

Hi we have two Dutch golden and two Dutch pied bantams. Up until a couple of days ago we were getting one egg one day and the next day we got 3. Now they seemed to have stopped laying. We were giving them scraps, layers pellets and fruit. Now they are just having layers pellets. At the moment they are not free to range but they still get bugs from the ground. The weather here has been warm with the odd day of rain. Can anyone help? On reading the posts garlic has been mentioned, I thought that was bad for them. What sort of garlic can they have?