21 laying hens and average of 6 eggs daily

[Newchickymama37]

I have 21 hens that are around 2 years old that I bought from 2 different places. 9 golden comets, 11 Colombian Wyandotte and 1 light Brahma. I collect on average 6 eggs daily and once I got 12. Why are they not all laying? I’ve had them for a couple months now and have yet to get more eggs!

 

[sourland]

How well do you know the seller ? My gut response is that they may be older than 2. Around the 2 year point many birds take a break in the laying cycle, molt and then come back into lay. Some birds such as the red sex links (comets) may already be beyond their most reproductive years.

 

[Newchickymama37]

How well do you know the seller ? My gut response is that they may be older than 2. Around the 2 year point many birds take a break in the laying cycle, molt and then come back into lay. Some birds such as the red sex links (comets) may already be beyond their most reproductive years.

It seems my comets are the ones that are laying more often. The eggs look completely different and I don’t get many from the others. I found both on Craigslist from 2 different sellers.

 

[azygous]

You might also examine their diet. If it's low in protein and high in starches (scratch and treats), and if they are below normal weight, their egg production will fall off.

 

[Newchickymama37]

You might also examine their diet. If it's low in protein and high in starches (scratch and treats), and if they are below normal weight, their egg production will fall off.

I feel like I’m feeding them constantly! I mix cracked corn and layer pellets with a little oyster shell.

 

[lilmillefleur]

I would recommend cutting out the cracked corn and see if that helps.

 

[GC-Raptor]

What azygous said.
Most Layers pellets are 16% Protein. The minimum needed by layers, some need more.
Cracked corn around 8.5% Protein. Combined 50/50 around 12% Protein.
Scatter a small amount of corn on the ground as a treat, don't mix with feed. GC

 

[Newchickymama37]

What azygous said.
Most Layers pellets are 16% Protein. The minimum needed by layers, some need more.
Cracked corn around 8.5% Protein. Combined 50/50 around 12% Protein.
Scatter a small amount of corn on the ground as a treat, don't mix with feed. GC

My husband says that all they fed their chickens in Mexico was whole corn and they did fine.

 

[Newchickymama37]

Is there some kind of protein supplement that I can add to their food?

 

[aart]

My husband says that all they fed their chickens in Mexico was whole corn and they did fine.

Well, try cutting out the cracked corn and see what happens.
Many remember grannies chickens, but rarely do they know the whole story.

Is there some kind of protein supplement that I can add to their food?

Meal worms, meat scraps, scrambled eggs, canned mackerel.