Chickens not stopped laying eggs

[Daleb843]

I got 2 Golden Comets 6 weeks ago, when I got them they were 37 weeks old and 1 of them was laying an egg every day for 2 weeks, then it went to every other day, now it's been 5 days without any eggs, the other one hasn't laid any eggs. They are eating laying pellets, I got them some grit 3 days ago. Is this something usual ?

 

[aart]

I got 2 Golden Comets 6 weeks ago, when I got them they were 37 weeks old and 1 of them was laying an egg every day for 2 weeks, then it went to every other day, now it's been 5 days without any eggs, the other one hasn't laid any eggs. They are eating laying pellets, I got them some grit 3 days ago. Is this something usual ?

They may need a higher protein feed...especially if you are feeding foods other than the layer feed.

 

[chickengirl530]

I also give mine the pellets, at first they weren't laying them boom...I've got 18 hens and I'm now getting 16 eggs per day...I hated the pellets at first, now I refuse to change

 

[Daleb843]

Thanks, what kind of food should I give them other than laying pellets, that has a lot of protein?

 

[aart]

: I like to feed a flock raiser/starter/grower/finisher type feed with 20% protein crumble full time to all ages and genders, as non-layers(chicks, males and molting birds) do not need the extra calcium that is in layer feed and chicks and molters can use the extra protein. Makes life much simpler to store and distribute one type of chow that everyone can eat. I do grind up the crumbles (in the blender) for the chicks for the first week or so.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer. I adjust the amounts of other feeds to get the protein levels desired with varying situations.

Calcium should be available at all times for the layers, I use oyster shell mixed with rinsed, dried, crushed chicken egg shells in a separate container.

Animal protein (a freshly trapped mouse, mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided once in while and during molting and/or if I see any feather eating.