Advice on egg laying

[netguru]

I have 3 rhode island reds that I got in Feb 2012. I was told by the farmer that they had just started laying. They laid great last year, we normally had 2-3 eggs a day. They of course slowed down in the winter and fall and never picked back up. It is normally 1 egg a day. If they had really just started laying, I should be getting more eggs than 1 a day. They free range during the day and I have a layer feed for them. The same thing that they did last year. I don't know what could be wrong. I have never had rhode island reds before, but an Egyptian Fayoumis. They always molted big time in the fall, but these birds never molted that I noticed, but there seems to always be some red feathers in the coop. Any advice would be appreciated!!! Thank you!!!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Birds slow as they age, that much is certain. Since you didn't raise the chicks from hatch, you have to rely on someone's credibility as to their genuine age, and that is sketchy sometimes, shall we say.

Go through the checklist.
1. Laying off site. Since your birds have access to far away sites, keep them confined to a coop and run for a week and see if there is any difference in the egg count.
2. Nutrition. Sometimes just changing the feed to another high quality brand can make a difference.
3. Environmental issues. Excess heat can slow egg laying enthusiasm.
4. Parasite, both internal and external can effect laying. Dust them, worm them and see if egg counts improve.

After these things? Well, you've got what you've got. Best regards.

 

[donrae]

I think it's the free ranging. Try confining them for a few days and see how many eggs you get.