Can water effect egg laying production?

[aqhaktberry3]

Our hens have stopped laying eggs, and it has been this way for many months. They did lay nearly everyday for a while. I live in FL and I understand the heat can effect their laying production. The only other thing I can think of to explain the situation is maybe the water??? Can this be a possibility? Our water does have a lot of iron in it. It is well water. Any help would be MUCH appreciated! Thanks!

 

[twentynine]

Yes water quality and availibility of water can affect laying.
But assuming your birds are getting the same water as always I suspect something else.
Age?
Molt?
Food quality?
Health?

 

[aqhaktberry3]

We have about 30 all different ages. But most of them should be laying and almost all have laid in the past. They did go though molt but that was several months ago. We are feeding them the same food we have been. Is there a recommended brand? They are very happy chickens. They have a big field they go out for the whole day and then get locked up in the coop at night. Should we try filtering the water some how? With 30 hens, we should be getting more than one egg a day.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Could they be hiding their eggs?

 

[MaggieRae]

Sure they're not just laying out in the big field?

 

[aqhaktberry3]

We have considered that and have looked EVERYWHERE! We also check several times a to make sure there cant possaibly be anything getting in there and eating/taking them. Could we not be feeding them enough? How much is each chicken supposed to get a day.

 

[MaggieRae]

I keep an unlimited amount of food out for my hens.

And chickens are crafty creatures.
A good friend of mine had his 3 hens in his back yard which wasn't very big, 1/4 of an acre, perhaps? And they still hid the eggs away, trying to form a brood. Took him 5 days to find them, and he looked.

 

[aqhaktberry3]

I have decided to UP their feed, and filter the water. Hopefully that will work! I'm also thinking of not giving them scratch for a while. I read that scratch can reduce egg production. Is this true?

 

[MaggieRae]

I thought scratch upped egg production, but I don't know for sure.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
Yes, since it is lower in protein, they can eat enough of it to offset the protein that they should be getting in the layer ration. Laying hens need around 17% protein in their diet. If they are eating half layer ration and half scratch, they aren't getting enough protein.

I doubt it's the water, unless they have some sort of aversion to it that has lowered their consumption.

Are you giving supplemental light? They may just have slowed down for the winter.

Try a higher protein feed and start adding 15-30 minutes of light a week until they start laying again.