bawkbawk2
Chirping
- Oct 25, 2015
- 2
- 0
- 50
I'm new to chickens. About two weeks ago I purchased four 2yo layers. The person I got them from had a couple hundred chickens that were penned 24/7. The first couple of days they were laying some eggs but their production seems to be diminishing. They NEVER leave the coop even though they have a nice size pen to be in. I've tried moving their food/water to the pen during the day. Besides being a pain and having to worry about their food getting wet, two of the four fly out of the pen and get back into the coop by flying through the top half of the dutch door that's open.
I live in Michigan. I know that their production drops off in the fall/winter. They are eating/drinking just fine. I have been supplementing their light since the days are getting shorter. Setting light timer to come on in the wee hours of the morning so they get about 16 hours of "daylight".
I'm guessing they are stressed because of their environment change. Do I just need to give them more time to adjust on their own? How much production should I expect in the fall/winter with 2yo hens?
I have two Amercanas, one Barred Rock and one Isa Brown.
Thanks in advance for chiming in...
I live in Michigan. I know that their production drops off in the fall/winter. They are eating/drinking just fine. I have been supplementing their light since the days are getting shorter. Setting light timer to come on in the wee hours of the morning so they get about 16 hours of "daylight".
I'm guessing they are stressed because of their environment change. Do I just need to give them more time to adjust on their own? How much production should I expect in the fall/winter with 2yo hens?
I have two Amercanas, one Barred Rock and one Isa Brown.
Thanks in advance for chiming in...