almost yr old chickens and no eggs

[akcountrygrrl]

I was talking about the possibility that your chickens are egg eaters... The first soft egg they laid that broke or an egg that cracked and they tried a taste and liked it kind of thing...

 

[ranchhand]

Quote:
Just an idea - put them on layer feed and what they get by free ranging only. Oyster shell and grit in separate containers and no scratch feed, no scraps. I feed layer 24/7. I keep the feeders in the coops filled at all times.

No artificial light. Yours being on all winter may have thrown them off. Give them a month on that to readjust.

Check to see that you don't have snakes, squirrels, foxes, cats, dogs etc. getting in and stealing eggs. I have one big rat snake who will steal 5-6 eggs a day if I don't get there first! And the hens ignore him.

Hopefully they will get with the program!

 

[equine chick]

Try a little cayenne in the feed. I heard this helps during molting. I'm not sure how much someone else on here might know.

 

[sarahsark]

If your ladies free range, they are most likely just dropping eggs in everywhere else BUT the nesting box, as mine do. We thought something was wrong with ours until only last week, when we found about six eggs in our shed of all places. And we never would have found those if I hadn't forced my hubby to help me clean that thing out.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

I found a bunch under the recycling bin (wooden, with removable plastic bins inside), a bunch in the collecting bag of the mower, and some in the old cabin... on the COUNTER... and one in a sled. and a huge bunch in a tipped over garbage can...

 

[sammileah]

i'm going to test the egg eater idea, by putting a couple real eggs out there and see what happens. only 2 hens free range themselves, so even if they are laying who knows where that still leaves 4 that arent. they have been on layer feed since they turned 20 weeks. well acually before that cause i had 3 layers till this winter. my flock was at 10 till this winter. and i don't pull feeders at night i'm lazy like that.

 

[bigstack]

Do a search for cayeanne pepper on here. I have posted Numerous times about using cayanne to jump start the laying cycle in a bird.

Basically just make a pan of cornbread. like you would eat. Just add 2 tbl. sp. of cayeanne pepper powder. chickens don't taste heat like we do so don't worry! the capsacin kick starts their bodies. some kind of chemical reaction. It triggers the reproduction stuff to start up! Sorry its not real technical but I have posted so many times on this... LOL My granny did this all her life if she had some hens that refused to lay or were just slow to start up. They will not lay more than normal!!!! This is just a kick start!!!! it does not speed up the proccess. it just starts it! or helps to.

I have heard some peole just sprinkle it on their feed. I dont like this method! I am worried about it getting in their eyes and sinus! Plus they love the treat!!!LOL

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[bigstack]

Actually they should not be on layer until they begin to lay. The extra calcium can cause problems! They don't need the extra calcium if they are not laying. Just a lil extra to think ablout.

Good Luck and God Bless!

 

[sammileah]

so test eggs sat in nest box for 24 hours. so nobody is eating/stealing them. did the pepper tip today. thanks again everyone.

 

[chuckzoo]

Quote:
I have read on here to add 1/4tsp per cup of feed.

My sister had the same problem with her hens not laying. She stopped giving them anything but their feed and did the cayenne pepper thing and is now getting about nine eggs a day from her 15 hens.

Good luck!