egg laying and feed

[junior67]

@jreardon1918 off topic of this but know you are near me and brood outside also (and thought you used a MHP as well). What months have you brooded outside? I am trying to figure out the earliest I want to hatch this year but don't want the babies cold outside.

 

[FunClucks]

I think it's difference in light exposure being the determining factor in how many eggs are laid, and not food type.

I have an open air coop covered by a clear tarp, so my chickens get all the light available all the time. There are mature trees nearby that provide some shade depending on where the sun is in the sky, but now that the leaves are gone, shade is minimal. They have clutter in their run to hide underneath, but in general are exposed to whatever the sky is doing light-wise. I've noticed that if we get a few really overcast days in a row, the number of eggs I get decreases. When it's sunny again for a few days, production goes back up.

I have a mixed flock, all 8-9 months old, and my production reds haven't stopped giving me one egg a day, but my olive egger (who lays brown), BO and SGEs might skip a day or two if it's been particularly cloudy for a while. Right now we're getting 10 hrs or less of light a day, and I'm in north Alabama, but I think it's applicable.

I feed Purina all flock with oystershell on the side and ~10% food scraps or scratch.

 

[junior67]

I think it's difference in light exposure being the determining factor in how many eggs are laid, and not food type.

I have an open air coop covered by a clear tarp, so my chickens get all the light available all the time. There are mature trees nearby that provide some shade depending on where the sun is in the sky, but now that the leaves are gone, shade is minimal. They have clutter in their run to hide underneath, but in general are exposed to whatever the sky is doing light-wise. I've noticed that if we get a few really overcast days in a row, the number of eggs I get decreases. When it's sunny again for a few days, production goes back up.

I have a mixed flock, all 8-9 months old, and my production reds haven't stopped giving me one egg a day, but my olive egger (who lays brown), BO and SGEs might skip a day or two if it's been particularly cloudy for a while. Right now we're getting 10 hrs or less of light a day, and I'm in north Alabama, but I think it's applicable.

I feed Purina all flock with oystershell on the side and ~10% food scraps or scratch.

Ok that is what I feed as well. So that helps with food not making a difference.

 

[FunClucks]

Ok that is what I feed as well. So that helps with food not making a difference.

I did some research on it. As far as commercially available feeds go, Purina All Flock/Flockraiser is one of the better ones, according to knowledgeable folks on this forum. I feel confident that my chickens are well fed.