I began with 4 hens (NH reds) and 3 ducks (Pekins) who have lived together for 1 1/2 years in a large run with a small pond and a large coop. The ducks are 2 1/2 years old and the chickens are 1 1/2 years old.They have unlimited access to layer pellets and fresh water as well as ranging in the run (50' x 30') and access to a small pond with fish. We are in FL so they have plenty of insects to eat. and currently we have about 14 hours of sunlight daily.The run is complete fenced and covered with orchard netting so at night they are able to run free but they spend the night in the coop by their own choice.
They are fed layer pellets and have plenty of oyster shell available. I also put a small amount of BOSS in their feed daily.
For the first year I would get nearly 1 egg a day from the each of the birds, often in the same nest, even though there are 10 nesting boxes in the coop.
About 10 months ago, the egg laying began to decline and now I can go days without a single egg from anyone. Sometimes weeks will pass with no duck eggs and just a few chicken eggs. (The ducks lay white and the chickens lay brown so I can tell the difference)
Over the last few months I tried many things to encourage egg laying:
1. Added starter/grower to the layer feed 50-50 for 2 months - no change.
2. Gave them fresh vegetable (corn, cabbage, peas, carrots) - no change.
3. Changed them to flock raiser for a month then back to layer - no change.
4. Added liquid vitamins to their water and they would stop drinking it and just drink from the pond.
5. Added rooster booster to the feed - no change
Nothing works.
They do not seem to have any illness, the chickens combs are bright red, and the ducks are very active and noisy. I have dusted them all with sevin to ensure no parasites. I have also sprinkled DE under the hay in their nesting boxes. I check the nesting boxes often for rats and snakes and there is no evidence of either (I have even put cameras in the nesting box and recorded several nights to ensure no predators are coming in. There are none. Occasionally one of the ducks or chickens will spend several hours of the day in the nesting box with no real egg, just sitting on the porcelain eggs I have put there. I do not think they are brooding, just hanging around in the shade.
In March, after months of very limited egg production, I decided to add a few chickens and ducks to the flock to try an increase egg production. Now we have 5 ducks (all pekins) and 7 chickens (6 reds and 1 Orpington). Today one of the new reds laid her first egg.
My question is what could have stopped them from laying and what can I do to ensure the new additions do not "catch" the not laying syndrome that is prevalent in my flock.
With 13 birds my wife and I should not have to buy eggs for two people!
Thank you
They are fed layer pellets and have plenty of oyster shell available. I also put a small amount of BOSS in their feed daily.
For the first year I would get nearly 1 egg a day from the each of the birds, often in the same nest, even though there are 10 nesting boxes in the coop.
About 10 months ago, the egg laying began to decline and now I can go days without a single egg from anyone. Sometimes weeks will pass with no duck eggs and just a few chicken eggs. (The ducks lay white and the chickens lay brown so I can tell the difference)
Over the last few months I tried many things to encourage egg laying:
1. Added starter/grower to the layer feed 50-50 for 2 months - no change.
2. Gave them fresh vegetable (corn, cabbage, peas, carrots) - no change.
3. Changed them to flock raiser for a month then back to layer - no change.
4. Added liquid vitamins to their water and they would stop drinking it and just drink from the pond.
5. Added rooster booster to the feed - no change
Nothing works.
They do not seem to have any illness, the chickens combs are bright red, and the ducks are very active and noisy. I have dusted them all with sevin to ensure no parasites. I have also sprinkled DE under the hay in their nesting boxes. I check the nesting boxes often for rats and snakes and there is no evidence of either (I have even put cameras in the nesting box and recorded several nights to ensure no predators are coming in. There are none. Occasionally one of the ducks or chickens will spend several hours of the day in the nesting box with no real egg, just sitting on the porcelain eggs I have put there. I do not think they are brooding, just hanging around in the shade.
In March, after months of very limited egg production, I decided to add a few chickens and ducks to the flock to try an increase egg production. Now we have 5 ducks (all pekins) and 7 chickens (6 reds and 1 Orpington). Today one of the new reds laid her first egg.
My question is what could have stopped them from laying and what can I do to ensure the new additions do not "catch" the not laying syndrome that is prevalent in my flock.
With 13 birds my wife and I should not have to buy eggs for two people!
Thank you