Hello! I have about 36 hens that just celebrated their one year birthday. But, they are not laying, we are lucky to get 5 dozen eggs a week. There have been several changes...
We have many new hens that moved into the coop about three months ago...they all seem to get along fine. We added nestboxes and roosting bars.
We hatched eggs this Spring and had MANY roosters, most have gone to new homes, but about 5 amorous gents remain. I have made a seperate fenced area for the cassanovas until their new owners pick them up. They do molest the ladies and chase them quite a bit. I just did this today.
Because of the low egg production, I got food grade Diat. Earth and have sprinkled it in their evening "leftover casserole with oatmeal". Sprinkled it in the coop and in dusting spots. I was worried some bugs may be bothering them, though I have never seen mites on them.
It is hot here, but not crazy hot. Texas hot, in the 90's.
There are feathers everywhere and my year-olds' feathers are looking dull and scraggly. But, they are not bald or anything. Some have feathers missing from their throats...could they be molting? I thought it was the roosters messing with them.
I am so bummed, our friends at the farmer's market have about 15 hens and get 7 dozen a week.
Am I doing anything wrong, do I need to look for something in particular? Is it possible to feed hens TOO well? Ours are quite spoiled. We keep their food hopper full of Layena, scatter scratch and corn daily, and they get the "casserole" several times weekly. Plus, family members come by all the time with veggies and melon skins.
Trying not to take it personally....any ideas???
THANKS SO MUCH.
We have many new hens that moved into the coop about three months ago...they all seem to get along fine. We added nestboxes and roosting bars.
We hatched eggs this Spring and had MANY roosters, most have gone to new homes, but about 5 amorous gents remain. I have made a seperate fenced area for the cassanovas until their new owners pick them up. They do molest the ladies and chase them quite a bit. I just did this today.
Because of the low egg production, I got food grade Diat. Earth and have sprinkled it in their evening "leftover casserole with oatmeal". Sprinkled it in the coop and in dusting spots. I was worried some bugs may be bothering them, though I have never seen mites on them.
It is hot here, but not crazy hot. Texas hot, in the 90's.
There are feathers everywhere and my year-olds' feathers are looking dull and scraggly. But, they are not bald or anything. Some have feathers missing from their throats...could they be molting? I thought it was the roosters messing with them.
I am so bummed, our friends at the farmer's market have about 15 hens and get 7 dozen a week.
Am I doing anything wrong, do I need to look for something in particular? Is it possible to feed hens TOO well? Ours are quite spoiled. We keep their food hopper full of Layena, scatter scratch and corn daily, and they get the "casserole" several times weekly. Plus, family members come by all the time with veggies and melon skins.
Trying not to take it personally....any ideas???
THANKS SO MUCH.