Chickens went on egg strike!!

[Cohl0406]

I just think it's wrong to give them eggs to eat lol. The run isn't so much of a run as it is a large part of our yard that we fenced off since we have big dogs. It's like a 7-800 square foot area. Actually the nicest part of the yard. They have Plucked my grapefruit trees leaves to the stems where they can reach. I'm thinking of using a tiller and loosening up the dirt since after all the rain we had its really packed down. Hopefully can get worms and grubs moving back into that area. Or would that not be worth my time?

As gross as it sounds with the huge oak tree we also have tree roaches back there. The duck chases them down and eats them but I don't think the chickens are hip on them. I noticed before they loved chasing grasshoppers and other bugs in the yard. Then playing keep away lol

Currently I have 5 lbs of scratch mixed in with 20 lbs of lay pellet. I'll go pick up some oyster shell today and see what they do with that.

 

[aart]

I just think it's wrong to give them eggs to eat lol. The run isn't so much of a run as it is a large part of our yard that we fenced off since we have big dogs. It's like a 7-800 square foot area. Actually the nicest part of the yard. They have Plucked my grapefruit trees leaves to the stems where they can reach. I'm thinking of using a tiller and loosening up the dirt since after all the rain we had its really packed down. Hopefully can get worms and grubs moving back into that area. Or would that not be worth my time?

As gross as it sounds with the huge oak tree we also have tree roaches back there. The duck chases them down and eats them but I don't think the chickens are hip on them. I noticed before they loved chasing grasshoppers and other bugs in the yard. Then playing keep away lol

Currently I have 5 lbs of scratch mixed in with 20 lbs of lay pellet. I'll go pick up some oyster shell today and see what they do with that.

That could be your problem right there.
Layer feed is usually only about 16-17% protein and scratch is usually about 8-10%.
Read your feed bag labels.
You are severely diluting the protein in the layer feed by mixing the scratch in with it.
Leave the layer pellet available 24/7 and just give them a little bit (10% of the daily volume of feed pellets they eat)of scratch as a treat each day.

 

[junebuggena]

Layer pellets have about 16% protein, scratch grains lowers that protein content even further. Scratch grains should not be mixed into feed. It should be used sparingly as a treat. A few handfuls is as much as they should get, and it should be scattered on the ground for them to 'scratch' for.

 

[Cohl0406]

After this feed is gone I won't mix it anymore but since it already is (and I've always mixed it since they started eating layer pellets) not much I can do about it :-/

 

[junebuggena]

Right, but they have only been on layer feed for a few months at most, right? Your flock is fairly young. It took a few weeks for them to get too depleted to lay eggs.

 

[aart]

You could feed them some high protein treats to offset the existing mix of feed.
Mealworms, sunflower seeds, meat scraps.


Think about this before buying your next bag of feed:

I like to feed a 'flock raiser' 20% protein crumble 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.

The higher protein crumble also offsets the 8% protein scratch grains and other kitchen/garden scraps I like to offer.

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 (mealworms, a little cheese - beware the salt content, meat scraps) is provided during molting and if I see any feather eating.

 

[newmarch2014]

Feeding the egg shells back (and scrambled or boiled eggs for protein) is a cheap and easy way to give back to the flock and almost always a hit with them. Don't let your own human perception cloud the benefits too much lol.

 

[N F C]

I give scrambled eggs once in a while to my girls, they love them (just simply eggs, bit of water...no salt, pepper, butter).

Only I don't tell them they're getting scrambled eggs. They give me eggs and I give them scrambles, lol. So far, that works for them and me

 

[Cohl0406]

I can grab a bag of mealworms when I grab the calcium. All makes perfect sense. Now that I know what could be the problem. For it to be all of them it has to be the food. Yall have all been great. I guess giving eggs aren't as bad as giving them cooked chicken to eat lol

 

[Cohl0406]

Ok I broke down and gave them scrambled eggs. Lol I'm also going to give them the egg shells once I grind them up a bit. Also tried to avoid as much scratch when giving them more pellets as I could just now.