53 hens and not consistent egg laying

[obsessedwchicks]

Out of 53 hens that SHOULD be laying, I'm only getting roughly 3 dozen a day. For the last 4 days, i got 34 eggs…… Tonight I got 32……. We feed them more feed that should MAKE them lay, it's HOT as heck outside, the sun is out all day long and they have plenty of water……. My daddy says its just chickens, but I'M worried. Anyone wanna help out?

 

[sourland]

How old are the hens? After a certain point productivity drops off.

 

[animallover505]

Egg production decreases when it's REALLY hot

 

[obsessedwchicks]

I have about probably 40 that should be laying…… I'm not for sure how old some of the older ones are….. i wont BE as worried as I am now once roughly middle of june comes….. that's when my pullets will start laying...

 

[animallover505]

If you have 40 that should be laying and are getting 30-something, you're doing pretty good

 

[obsessedwchicks]

I have 53 hens and I'm only getting 32-34 a day. Only about 5 are a year or so older…… Was figuring it all out just now!

 

[my sunwolf]

40 that should be laying and you're getting 36 a day? Sounds like average hen behavior to me. Unless they are under 2 years old and have perfect weather conditions, that is exactly how many you should be getting.

ETA: It may be the weather, that they are laying somewhere else, that they have bugs of some kind, that they have a hidden illness... could be tons of things. Some breeds are also not as productive as others. Unless you have production birds like sex-links or leghorns, I would expect an egg every other day.

 

[obsessedwchicks]

I just don't think thats good enough….. I'm sorry but I have 53 hens in there and 3 dozen a day just isn't cutting my egg sales.

 

[my sunwolf]

I just don't think thats good enough….. I'm sorry but I have 53 hens in there and 3 dozen a day just isn't cutting my egg sales.

You can't make much money on egg sales from hens that are not production birds. It's impossible to compete with large scale operations unless you are finding cheap feed, have production birds, and are selling your eggs for a fair price. Maybe reconsider your breeds if you're going into the egg business.

 

[animallover505]

I just don't think thats good enough….. I'm sorry but I have 53 hens in there and 3 dozen a day just isn't cutting my egg sales.

The young ones that aren't laying yet, 13, right? won't be adding to the number, they are pullets. You have 40 hens and 13 pullets. You are getting 3 dozen a day from 40 hens/