What to feed chickens to lay more eggs.

[Eva2012]

I just purchased a bag of game bird mix. But it has whole corn kernels and whole soy beans in it. Are these safe for the chickens or should I soak them overnight or sprout them? Should I remove the soy beans? Just going through my questions.

 

[notsoangrybirds]

A single bulb in their coop hooked up to a timer extending the day light seems to be working for me as well- 6 chickens & average about 5 a day

 

[Angel16]

so if i put the sky light in i would have to put a light in the coop as well?

 

[DeepFriedBacon]

New bird- adding a skylight, while giving the birds more light while the sun is up, won't extend the daylight hours in a day, which is what triggers the birds to lay more. "Circadium rhythem" is what the birds are going by. The longer daylight hrs means spring/summer, which is naturally when wild avians lay eggs, so chicks hatch during warm weather, plentiful food, etc for a greater chance of survival. This hasn't been totally bred out of chickens....yet, so this is why the main productive period is spring/summer and shorter days, less daylight equal fall/winter and less eggs.

So while adding a skylight will give the coop more light, it probably won't trigger more eggs. It's the length of the light, not just light.

 

[pheonixstar15a]

How many layers do you have?, they usually lay an egg every other day, some do every day. I have about 16 layers , laying and i will get say 11 eggs one day and 5 the next. I just feed the regular Layers crumbles and scratch feed from the feed store, plus kitchen scraps and let them out to roam in the afternoon to do their own forging . Mine just got finished with a 2 month molt, luckily they all molted at one time ( losing feathers etc I have stumbled on the fact if you dont over feed them they lay better. Hope this helps a little.

 

[Angel16]

New bird- adding a skylight, while giving the birds more light while the sun is up, won't extend the daylight hours in a day, which is what triggers the birds to lay more. "Circadium rhythem" is what the birds are going by. The longer daylight hrs means spring/summer, which is naturally when wild avians lay eggs, so chicks hatch during warm weather, plentiful food, etc for a greater chance of survival. This hasn't been totally bred out of chickens....yet, so this is why the main productive period is spring/summer and shorter days, less daylight equal fall/winter and less eggs.

So while adding a skylight will give the coop more light, it probably won't trigger more eggs. It's the length of the light, not just light.

Okay, so would it be a good idea if i did both sky light and light bulb in the coop or just put a light in there for them???

 

[ehecatl]

My hens were giving on an average a little more than one egg every other day, but I got a cat to control rodents, and the hens like to eat a little dry cat food from the cat dish. They don't eat much cat food, but the do each eat a little. Now they are all laying pretty much one egg per day.

 

[DeepFriedBacon]

I'd say go both routes if you have an available skylight and are handy enough to install without it leaking. (Being a residential exterior waterproofing technician makes me leary when people try to do this cause "how hard can it be?")
Leaking roof on chicken litter is bad ju-ju.

To extend the daylight hours, you'll need a light and timer. Only way that's gonna happen.

But I'm sure a little extra sunshine inside the coop itself will bring a touch of extra happiness to the chickens as well.

 

[restjamm]

I've seen mine take chipmunks and anything else from the cats that they can at the farm and eat small live mice and moles. I have pictures of them helping the cats corner and catch a chipmunk. People would not believe what free range chickens will eat.

 

[Angel16]

I'd say go both routes if you have an available skylight and are handy enough to install without it leaking. (Being a residential exterior waterproofing technician makes me leary when people try to do this cause "how hard can it be?")
Leaking roof on chicken litter is bad ju-ju.

To extend the daylight hours, you'll need a light and timer. Only way that's gonna happen.

But I'm sure a little extra sunshine inside the coop itself will bring a touch of extra happiness to the chickens as well.

Thanks!! do you know were i might get a timer from??