Egg help

coleman517

In the Brooder
Apr 28, 2016
11
0
24
I have 23 chickens and originally we had a coop and a large fenced in area for them. We were gwtting anywhere from 15-25 eggs a day. We recently started letting them free range thinking they would be happier with more grass and places to fine bugs but we have only been getting around 6 eggs a day. Is this normal? I don't know why it has dropped so much.

Thanks!
 
Free ranging birds will lay less due to more exercise which burns energy which would go into laying. They could be laying elsewhere too, so have a good look around for hidden nests. Hens will go up and down in production throughout the year, changes can cause halts in laying, things like weather or food changes and disturbances.
 
Never heard of free ranging reducing egg production because of too much exercise<scratcheshead>.

But they certainly could be laying out in the range area......
....maybe try not letting them out to range until later in the afternoon/evening after most have laid?
Or lock em back up for a few days and see what that gets you.
 
Never heard of free ranging reducing egg production because of too much exercise. But they certainly could be laying out in the range area...... ....maybe try not letting them out to range until later in the afternoon/evening after most have laid? Or lock em back up for a few days and see what that gets you.
A lot of weird stuff I read, mostly in Backyard Poultry magazine. From what I understand they are hustling more and not just eating a straight ration so a few less eggs than confined birds whose energy goes mostly into production. Should I stop sharing tidbits? I read a lot.
 
Today we put them back in the fenced area to see what will happen. We looked outside and we couldn't find any eggs.
I love getting info so I have no issue of you passing it on. :)
 
Quote: I've just never read that one, usually free range birds are touted to be better fed, healthier, and thus more productive.
I find most magazine articles to be almost as frequently inaccurate as anything you might read in a book or on the net,
just gotta take it all with more than several grains of salt.
No, I don't think you should stop sharing tidbits, you give out a lot of good info and assistance.
I use a lot of disqualifiers like...maybe, might be, probably, usually, etc when offering solutions, if I don't have hands on experience.
It keeps unproven concepts from being spread as truths and misleading newbies or anyone not duly weighing the info they gather.
 
I've just never read that one, usually free range birds are touted to be better fed, healthier, and thus more productive.
I find most magazine articles to be almost as frequently inaccurate as anything you might read in a book or on the net,
just gotta take it all with more than several grains of salt.
No, I don't think you should stop sharing tidbits, you give out a lot of good info and assistance.
I use a lot of disqualifiers like...maybe, might be, probably, usually, etc when offering solutions, if I don't have hands on experience.
It keeps unproven concepts from being spread as truths and misleading newbies or anyone not duly weighing the info they gather.
Well said. Yeah that one I have no personal proof of. My free range hens lay too many eggs.
 

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