Completely frustrated by lack of eggs

[ThinkingChickens]

Okay guys, here's my story. My girls have are 18 months. I have six. Two might be molting as they have missing feathers. The other four look good. They are all eating, active, and obnoxious as ever. However, we aren't getting eggs. From the six we might get one a day. This has been going on for about three months. It's not overly hot. We have 70-80 degree days. They are clean, well fed and have room to roam. We've scoured their area for missing eggs but there just isn't a spot they could be laying. I would think egg eating but I'd see evidence of that. What the heck?!? I feel like the biggest dupe with their $1500 accommodations and we're getting not even enough eggs for our family of three.

 

[Christie Rhae]

Okay guys, here's my story. My girls have are 18 months. I have six. Two might be molting as they have missing feathers. The other four look good. They are all eating, active, and obnoxious as ever. However, we aren't getting eggs. From the six we might get one a day. This has been going on for about three months. It's not overly hot. We have 70-80 degree days. They are clean, well fed and have room to roam. We've scoured their area for missing eggs but there just isn't a spot they could be laying. I would think egg eating but I'd see evidence of that. What the heck?!? I feel like the biggest dupe with their $1500 accommodations and we're getting not even enough eggs for our family of three.

Well that is totally frustrating. Have you tried upping their protein? Nothing could be getting in and stealing eggs? I had a group of hatchery hens that pretty much stopped laying at 2 years old. I have lots of pullets who are laying like crazy so I just one or two at a time got rid of my hatchery hens. Out of 16 I think I only have about 4 left...the lucky ones who still lay eggs. lol!

 

[leadwolf1]

What are you feeding?

 

[Vickir73]

my girls have pretty much slacked off also - I've got 15 hens and only getting about 2-3 eggs per day. I feed flockraiser, oats, corn, BOSS. (I scoop of flockraiser to each scoop of the extra stuff). I added a scoop of catfish pellets (36% protein to the mixture Sunday night) so I'm hoping to see a difference. One of the ladies I buy from occasionally (and shows) says she gives her catfish pellets as treats and hasn't had any problems this summer.

 

[sreihart]

I've had the same problem. Mine turned two this spring and since their molt last fall they haven't laid that much. Mine were hatchery chickens from an Amish hatchery. I have 12 hens and one roo. I average 4-5 eggs per day which is discouraging. I have wormed them and dusted them for any creepy crawlies even though I couldn't find anything on them. I give them electrolites in their water now since it's hot, gave them several trays to wade in (and the do and love it) to keep cool. They get fed quality Purina laying pellets and some BOSS as a treat. They have it better then me and they aren't paying off.

Do many of you reading this have the same problem?

 

[leadwolf1]

I feed a variety of fresh fruits and veggies daily, BOSS, mixed grain oats and purina layena to some and flock raiser to others. I also provide them with a constant supply of oyster shell. 10 hens consistently lay 8 - 10 eggs per day. Some days less...especially when the weather gets really hot.

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Just caught my favorite girls (Dorothy) eating an egg. She has yolk on her beak. So, that solves part of the problem. I'd like to cure her and not have to cull her. Any chance??

 

[Christie Rhae]

Just caught my favorite girls (Dorothy) eating an egg. She has yolk on her beak. So, that solves part of the problem. I'd like to cure her and not have to cull her. Any chance??

Do you know how to blow out an egg? I was having some problems one time. I blew out eggs and put that really smelly dark brown stuff you can buy to apply to birds that are getting pecked bare. Some sort of "no pick" ointment. I mixed that with dish soap, melted a crayon to cover the holes back up and stuck the eggs back in the nest boxes. A couple times pecking into that stuff and they were grossed out.

Here are some other things....

-make sure they have plenty of water
-give extra oyster shell, I have found if the shells are thin and crack when laid or when others climb into the nest box they will eat them
-give some extra protein in case they are craving it
-collect the eggs many times a day

Hope that helps!

 

[ThinkingChickens]

Do you know how to blow out an egg? I was having some problems one time. I blew out eggs and put that really smelly dark brown stuff you can buy to apply to birds that are getting pecked bare. Some sort of "no pick" ointment. I mixed that with dish soap, melted a crayon to cover the holes back up and stuck the eggs back in the nest boxes. A couple times pecking into that stuff and they were grossed out.

Here are some other things....

-make sure they have plenty of water
-give extra oyster shell, I have found if the shells are thin and crack when laid or when others climb into the nest box they will eat them
-give some extra protein in case they are craving it
-collect the eggs many times a day

Hope that helps!

Thanks! I'll try this out. I go out to collect eggs many times a day but haven't been finding anything. It's so frustrating with such a small flock and when we've spoiled the heck out of these chickens. She's a pretty but she'll be pretty tasty if she doesn't stop post haste!