Can't lay, won't lay?

[islandgirl82]

I'm glad you could rule that out. I'm not sure if it could be the scratch. I've never fed that or grit. The only time I've had an issue with my hens not laying was due to stress but I knew the cause and removed it. As soon as it was eliminated, they immediately began laying again. Where does your hen fit into the pecking order?

 

[traceyj]

She was one of three original hens and bottom of pecking order, so I got three new chickens, 3ish months old. They were bottom of the pack for a bit but now seem to have overtaken house as well so I think she is bottom again. But I tend to feed her separately so she gets some.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

If there's a concern that one is being chased from the food or water, it's important to have multiple sources available.

Grit (not the same thing as oyster shell) is important for all chickens so keep it up.

Be careful not o give too much corn or other scratch grains. Corn is only about 10% protein so can significantly lower total protein if it makes up more than 5-10% of the diet. It is also low in other nutrition. It is high in energy and chickens will eat to meet their energy needs first so some may overeat scratch.

It couldn't be egg binding, in my experience they only live a few days if egg bound.

 

[islandgirl82]

Grit isn't necessary if birds are allowed to free-range at all. They get what they need from the soil to help them digest.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I used to believe that too but not all free range soil is created equal. There still needs to be appropriately sized sharp stones present.

I started providing grit for my free range birds and they devour it like they haven't had any.

It is cheap so I don't scrimp and it lasts a long time. A 50# bag is somewhere around $10 and will last 50 free range birds about a year, confined birds half that.

I keep bags of #1 chick grit, #2 adolescent grit and #3 adult grit on hand all the time. I start the chicks the first week with the grit sprinkled on their food and in a separate container or just sprinkled on the floor for about 5 weeks till I switch them to #2 for a couple months then to #3. Grit too small will pass right through the gizzard without lodging there and serves no purpose. Even if they are only eating chicken feed, the grit helps their gizzard develop.

 

[traceyj]

They have an oyster shell and grit mix available all the time. I can't free range them because we have foxes and bears etc here so they have a pen, and their shed. I also feed them mealworms at night before they go to bed as they seem to love those! I have a tree branch in there that I've drilled holes in for the seeds and worms to be stuffed in so girls can pick at it, they like to play with that too. And I feed greens every other day, and fruit occasionally but found out quickly how much is too much because they all got the runs after I over did the grapes once!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The grit and oyster shell shouldn't be mixed. The each need their own container. The grit can even be broadcast like the scratch grains.
When they feel the need for calcium, they can pick up the oyster shell.
When they feel the need for grit, they need to get that without the calcium coating from mixing them.

 

[traceyj]

Oh thanks, the lady in feed store recommended it I've been to get them starter feed as recommended on here they seem to be eating that the same as the layer feed.

 

[traceyj]

Hehehe