cayenne pepper for 28 hens

[chickeylady]

i have 2 10lb feeders and 2 7lb feeders that I use so I don't have to fill quite as often. they are producing pretty good but would like to get more per day. Live in central texas so we have our cold spells but they don't seem to mind. I read about the cayenne pepper, how would I administer the right amount for all my girls?

 

[azygous]

Save your time, money, and sinuses. The great pepper solution to get hens to lay is a HOAX. Really.

All it will do is mix with the dust in your run, get air born, and drive you to sneezing fits and acute sinus irritation when you go into the run.

Cold temps have nothing to do with egg laying lapses. It's shortage of daylight, low hormones due to molt and short days that cause hens to take a break from laying. Wait a few more weeks, the days will be longer, and your hens will start laying.

 

[aart]

i have 2 10lb feeders and 2 7lb feeders that I use so I don't have to fill quite as often. they are producing pretty good but would like to get more per day.

What kind of feed are you giving, brand/model/protein and calcium percentages?
How many birds do you have....and what are their ages, in weeks or months?
How many eggs are you getting daily?

 

[svh]

I've heard the cayenne "oranges" up the yolks for a better? looking cracked egg ..... I'm sure I read that here somewhere.

The few times I've given the birds the pepper, it was mixed in their food with water to make a mash.

Ratio ? I just put in about 1/2 a teaspoon or so .....

 

[peeper89]

pepper burn their tongue!

 

[aart]

I've heard the cayenne "oranges" up the yolks for a better? looking cracked egg ..... I'm sure I read that here somewhere.

Yes, it can.

pepper burn their tongue!

No, it doesn't.
Birds cannot detect 'hot' stuff.....mammals can tho.
Why adding cayenne to bird feed can repel rodents and other mammals.

 

[black_cat]

i have 2 10lb feeders and 2 7lb feeders that I use so I don't have to fill quite as often. they are producing pretty good but would like to get more per day. Live in central texas so we have our cold spells but they don't seem to mind. I read about the cayenne pepper, how would I administer the right amount for all my girls?

You will get more eggs per day as the days begin to lengthen. You can also invest in a light in the coop, set on a timer to give them more hours of light.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The pepper might change yolk colors and make them poop more, but I doubt it will raise egg numbers. It's too short daywise for max production and not every bird is going to be a record holder. Some only lay every other day or less

 

[NatJ]

I read about the cayenne pepper, how would I administer the right amount for all my girls?

You could get crushed red pepper (little pieces, instead of ground-up dusty stuff) and put out a dish of it for them to eat if they want to.

I don't think it'll do any good, but should not do any harm either.

I agree with the other posters that say hours of daylight is the biggest factor, and you should get more eggs over the next few weeks and months as the days get longer. (Unless your hens go broody--they quit laying eggs while broody.)

 

[chickeylady]

What kind of feed are you giving, brand/model/protein and calcium percentages?
How many birds do you have....and what are their ages, in weeks or months?
How many eggs are you getting daily?

I feed chick starter which is 26% protein, layena which is high in calcuim, 3 grain scratch and oyster shell. As snacks, i give them cabbage, pumpkin, sweet potatoes. I have red & black star, blue laced red wyndotte, columbian wyndotte, barred rock, sex link , As for ages they range from 7 months to 5 months I average 10-15 eggs a day