Does this sound like a good maintenence mix?

[hcammack]

I gave the girls a mix of things to help them get up to lay after their molt and also to get through there molt. I mixed 1/2 cup scratch with 1 cup BOSS and 1/2 cup Start and grow and 1/2 cup. I just gave it once does it sound like it might work half the flock has gotten through their molt and should start laying and a few others are just starting their molt. What else should I give to get these girls laying and others to get through there molt. I am not using this as the main feed just giving 2 cups a day.

Thanks,
Henry

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
All they need is nothing but Purena laying pellets ( in the way of feed ) You can give a little cracked corn or scratch during the winter months as a treat . .... I read in several places that once they go into the molting stage , can take up to a couple of months to start laying again. Its a cycle they go thru , kinda like being broody ... They go thru the cycle and come out of it when the body is ready to .

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
All they need is nothing but Purena laying pellets ( in the way of feed ) You can give a little cracked corn or scratch during the winter months as a treat . .... I read in several places that once they go into the molting stage , can take up to a couple of months to start laying again. Its a cycle they go thru , kinda like being broody ... They go thru the cycle and come out of it when the body is ready to .

Thanks its been two months since half these girls were in a molt and three months since I have seen an egg from them! Thanks I have been giving Scratch and Black Oil Sunflower Seeds or BOSS as a treat. I just thought that start and grow had more protein and might give them that extra boost they are still getting their purina Layena free choice and also have oyster shells and what little grass is left in their run. They do free range when I give them a chance and I try and move the good and run once a month.

 

[silkiechicken]

If you want, you can just feed them a higher protein layer and just keep the scratch boss mix as their treat. Corn is something like 8-10% protein I think.

 

[hcammack]

Thanks does corn add extra colories or is that a myth I have heard allot of different things about it. I might switch I think Layena is 16% protein is that an alright precentage? should I switch and what brand should I switch to not sure what else my feed store carries.

Thanks,
Henry

 

[silkiechicken]

Adding some game bird feed would up the protein. Here you can find a "layer supplement" wich is a 20% layer feed.

Corn is a high calorie food. Like how eating a lb of lettuice has less calories then eating a pound of chocolate chip cookies. So per volume/mass of corn eaten, there is more calories to burn, or calories that can be used to produce heat.

It's probably short days that is causing lack of eggs. If they are done with moult, I'd say just give them some time.

 

[cajunlizz]

Now I will say this for what its worth , I added lights in both my coops to add that extra daylight hours missed during winter months . and We went from picking 3 - 5 eggs a day to picking near 2 DOZEN a day .....

We plug lights in at 5:00 PM until we go to bed and back ON around 4:30 - 5:00 AM until around 8:00ish .... We were leaving them on all night when it gets really damp and cold .

So , depending on the weather and the temps , the schedule for lighs on and off are above.

 

[ThreeBoysChicks]

Henry,

I have always given my laying hens Laying Pellets only. With a little crack corn as a treat, once a day. And an occasional table scrap (apple peal, pumpkin, etc). I have a light in the coop that comes on at 4:00 am and goes off at 8:00 am. This is really to wake them up earlier. I prefer to let them go to bed with the sun. This makes sure they get to their roosts before dark.

I still have a drop off in egg production, but I am still getting 5-7 eggs a day out of 9 hens. 3 of these girls are 1.5 y/o and the rest are under a year. That makes a difference also.

--Ed

 

[hcammack]

I just put light on yesterday I set it up so that in the afternoon they are getting extra light but if everyone thinks its better I could switch over to the lights coming on at 3 or 4. I am getting 0 eggs a day out of 9 hens! I was getting 2 or 3 a day but the delewares and leghorn who were laying have started their molt now.

thanks,
Henry

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, move it to morning, it will be easier on them to get lights on, than it is to get instand lights off and the "oh no, where is the roost?"