No eggs and Few eggs layed usually unfertiled....

[Eldon956]

Hello everyone, i dont like being a pain to others and try figuring things on my own but this has been a headache for a while so here I am asking for tips and suggestions. I bought some Brown Jumbos on ebay back in May 20 of this year, 24 eggs to be exact, for my homemade incubator and hatched 18 and have right now 8 birds left trying to breed in two breeding cages 2 ft x 3 ft with 18 inches in height. I have 1 male for 3 females ratio. They turned 6 months old yesterday the 14th. I started trying to hatch their eggs several times and kept on having unfertiled eggs or double yolkers. Then they started stopping laying eggs for some time and was feeding them turkey raiser 30% protein since they hatched, i heard of supplemental light at night ao they could get 16 hrs and got them start laying again but still same problem persist. Then i hearsbi had to change to 16% protein layer feed when they startedblaying eggs when they were young, so I changed their feed. I have collected 3 eggs out of 6 females in one week. Now I read I should be ready to replace my breeding birds once they reach 9 months so I can keep on with their fertility rate? WHAT FERTILITY? Ive seen the males mate but only hatched a couple of eggs that were fertile the rest were always clear when candling at 10 days. I just ordered another 24 eggs from ebay arriving on the 18th from different seller to get a different bloodline. Should I keep on trying with my birds or butcher them? It's been failure after failure. Any tips are appreciated.

 

[Nabiki]

16% protein is too low. For adults they should be getting 22-24% protein. Are they getting enough calcium? The layer feed should be around 3.5% protein, but I've had good results with offering oyster shell or egg shell on the side and letting them eat what they want.

I'm guessing that one of your males is a dud. It is also possible that your hens are a bit stressed with 1 male to 3 hens. The ideal ratio is usually 1:5, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

The 9 months is to replace the males. Hens are usually replaced more at the 12-18 month range.

I would start with replacing both of your males withe one fresh, young one.

 

[Eldon956]

16% protein is too low. For adults they should be getting 22-24% protein. Are they getting enough calcium? The layer feed should be around 3.5% protein, but I've had good results with offering oyster shell or egg shell on the side and letting them eat what they want.

I'm guessing that one of your males is a dud. It is also possible that your hens are a bit stressed with 1 male to 3 hens. The ideal ratio is usually 1:5, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

The 9 months is to replace the males. Hens are usually replaced more at the 12-18 month range.

I would start with replacing both of your males withe one fresh, young one.

I started giving them boiled eggs crushed along with its eggshell twice a week for 2 weeks ongoing for extra protein and calcium. I also give them veggies mainly lettuce and shredded carrots and throw in also some steamed white rice as treats also at least once a week. I'll go with your recomendation of replacing the males for now. Females can be bred that long? When you get double yolker, do they always lay double yolk or will they also lay regular eggs? If they dont lay regular to try and sort them out of the breeding program.

 

[Nabiki]

Double yolkers are most common with new layers. There will be hens that lay double yolkers more often, but I don't think any lay them all the time.