buff orps..how many eggs is normal??

[JeninMN]

Hi!
We have 23 layers right now that were a year old in April..we have 10 more that are just about 17 weeks old.

Question is on our 23 layers...we have never gotten more than 17 eggs in a day and that was a really good day...norm has been around 12 or down to 8. Lately we've only been seeing around 6 to 8 a day.

Can anyone with buff orps tell me what *normal* would be?? Are they supposed to lay every day?

Thanks!!

Jen

 

[Big dreams]

Are they all in a coop and run or do they free range? Just because my BOs lay everyday but some of the others love to lay outside, where ever, so its like a easter hunt!!! I try not to let them out until late so they are done laying but some don't lay until late.

Anyway just a thought.

 

[JeninMN]

Quote:
They are in a large coop until about 4:30 in the afternoon and then they free range till about 8 or 8:30pm every day....we dont let them out earlier because they don't get done laying till usually around 4pm.....and my hubby doesn't get home till then anyway

I've been watching for a stray egg here or there outside but haven't come across any.

 

[MIKE555444]

Does your one coop hold all 23 plus 17 pullets? I guess the question is how many Total chickens in the coop and what is the size?

 

[tackyrama]

I have 10 layers, 8 are BOs. They avg. 2 eggs every 3 days more or less. Mine are free range from sunrise to sunset and never lay eggs outside. They are two yrs old this summer. One of the BOs went broody this summer. She didn't hatch any of the first set of eggs (mostly our fault) but she wouldn't give up so we put another set of eggs under her. Poor thing is now about 6 weeks setting and has another 1 1/2 weeks to go. She is determined!

Are you from Minnesota? What part? I'm from near Milaca which is 30 miles south of Mill Lacs Lake.

 

[JeninMN]

Quote:
I forget how big the coop is but there is 4 sq ft per bird and we have the nesting boxes on one side and the other side has a ladder going up to roosting areas along with another roosting area 1/2 way down the side of the coop ..its a nice coop...my hubby did a great job! its inside of our barn and has chicken wire 1/2 way up to the top of the ceiling so there is always plenty of fresh air and sun getting in there so they aren't missing out until free ranging time in the evening.

there is the 23 1.5 yr olds, 3 roos and then 10 17 week olds in there.

 

[JeninMN]

Quote:
we are in west central MN...by Fargo ND....that is what I am thinking is that some are laying one day and the others are laying the next...so thats why we never get one from each each day...but still thought we should be seeing more than what we are I guess. we have had 3 broodies for awhile tho too so that doesn't help! I keep taking the eggs from under them but now I am thinking maybe I should have put some fake ones under them so they get over it????

 

[tackyrama]

I'm not sure how to break them of broodiness. My BOs seem very determined. I've read on here to isolate them may be the only way.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I get 5-6 eggs a week from my BO.

 

[cybercat]

I bet if you up your protien to 20% you would get more eggs. The problem with layer or egg ration is that it is made for the light breeds. The heavy, large, duel purpose breeds need a 20% protien to really do well. You can do this in alot of way but if you want a fast fix while you work out a new feed formula just give some dry cat food and that will do it. Hopefully you can find a feed with a higher protien but if you can not maybe you can have one milled for you. If you can not do that then you will have to add something to the feed to increase the protien like soy or a meat product. meal worms, crickets something like that will work also.