Can Apple Cider Vinegar in Water = less eggs?

[Halefamilyfarm]

I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions since I am about out of ideas. I have a flock of 60 chickens, 59 hens and 1 rooster. Half of the hens just started laying in October/November 09', the other half hatched in 08' and are either just finishing their first molt or just going into it. The 09' hens are all Black Stars and the 08' girls are a mix of RIRs, Black Stars, Red Stars and a few White Rocks. For the last 3 months I was collecting 30-45 eggs a day. Now in just the last week and a half I have gone from 30 eggs a day down to 14! Nothing that I can think of has changed except I had been very religious to put apple cider vinegar in their water 3 days out of the week. I put in about 1 tablespoon for each gallon of water. I have one of the electric netting fences that I use to move them to a new area everyday. Their feed hasn't changed it is a 17% layer crumble. The days have been getting longer not shorter. Last week I had taken the rooster and a mix of 10 hens and separated them because I am hatching some chicks. One of those days I got 9 eggs out of the 10 hens. It is just amazing to me that they could go down hill so fast. I am open to anything that anyone can suggest.

 

[kcsunshine]

Mine get ACV in their water and continue to lay through shorter days and extremely cold weather. I have 13 hens and get 8-9 eggs per day.

 

[mdbokc]

The ACV won't do it. Earlier this week, I got half the usual number of eggs for a couple of days. Then we went back to normal. Who knows? Stuff happens. They are not machines.

 

[Halefamilyfarm]

Should the ACV be a particular brand maybe?

 

[Germaine_11.20]

Organic and unprocessed. I like Braggs

 

[SoCalChick]

I started giving my hens organic CAV about 2 months ago. My hens are a little over a year old and it hasnt not made any difference in egg production.

 

[MSBG]

Okay, I haven't heard of this before, why give ACV? Please enlighten me.
Thanks so much!

 

[sundance]

go to search at top of page and type in apple cider vinegar then hit search at bottom. lots of info there and by the way i make my own for me marrie

 

[zoomia]

Personally, I'm not convinced that ACV does a single thing--either for or against. But I certainly don't think that it's decreased egg production. It's probably just one of those it's-still-winter-we're-going-to-be-inconsistent-and-drive-you-batty things.

 

[Feathered Wings]

Quote:
I totally agree with you