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What else can you feed your laying hens

post #1 of 24
6/19/12 at 9:32am
Thread Starter 

I am feeding my laying hens lay feed, scratch grain has corn and other grain in it, and oyster shells.  They are let out every evening to "free range in back yard.  But egg count has been dropping is there anything else I should be feeding them???????

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post #2 of 24
6/19/12 at 9:43am

Most table scraps, are you sure you have fewer eggs lid or maybe you have a predator (one of the chickens or otherwise) eating eggs.

 

Also what's the weather like, mine drop off when it starts getting 'over chicken body temp' (99-101*f)  for days a ta time.

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post #3 of 24
6/19/12 at 9:55am
Thread Starter 

No one eating eggs I go out there about 6 plus times a day before 5 to gather eggs.  I also check next boxes everytime for dampness because I was thinking egg eater too.   Temp is mid 90s plenty of shade in pen plus we broke ground ( dug holes) so they can play in the dirt  read on here they like that......

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post #4 of 24
6/19/12 at 9:57am
I would contribute it to the temps...have you checked for parasites? The often cobtribute to a lack of production
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post #5 of 24
6/19/12 at 10:01am
Thread Starter 

I will check that out what can you use if they do have parasites.  Do you need to toss eggs for a couple days after treatment.  Thanks for your help.

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post #6 of 24
6/19/12 at 10:58am

The bottle or directions will tell you if the medication is made for poultry how long to withdraw from the eggs- good luck.

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post #7 of 24
6/19/12 at 11:26am

My chickens also love strawberries, cold watermelon, you can even give them extra protein by giving some scrambled eggs. Its a little weird, but my chickens love 'em and its plumped up my broody hen after a week in the coop sitting on nothing. Dont' have a rooster! I'd also look for signs of lice or mites.. cases on her feathers, lice on their bodies.. it might be the heat more than anything.
 

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post #8 of 24
6/19/12 at 11:51am
Thread Starter 

Thanks so much for your help. 

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post #9 of 24
6/19/12 at 12:00pm
How old are your hens? I guess you know they slow down production after a year or two (from what I understand) Mine have and I am geting soft shells sometimes. I have taken to grinding up my own calcium pills and adding it to a snack like rice. After I do that I see an increase in hard shells and egg production although my 2 year olds are producing at about 50%.

4 Buff Orpington hens and 1 roosterboy, 2 Wyandottes, 2 Americaunas, 6 cats, 4 dogs. Does it matter that Attila the Hen's avatar is a rooster?

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4 Buff Orpington hens and 1 roosterboy, 2 Wyandottes, 2 Americaunas, 6 cats, 4 dogs. Does it matter that Attila the Hen's avatar is a rooster?

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post #10 of 24
6/19/12 at 12:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Attila the Hen View Post

How old are your hens? I guess you know they slow down production after a year or two (from what I understand) Mine have and I am geting soft shells sometimes. I have taken to grinding up my own calcium pills and adding it to a snack like rice. After I do that I see an increase in hard shells and egg production although my 2 year olds are producing at about 50%.

 

Human calcium? Is it 'cheeper' than oyster shell?

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2012 Art Contest runs till Midnight EST Dec 31st 2012

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 Scientist and Tutor, expert at nothing, opinions on everything.

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