I have a few problems i'm not sure about.
Some details first. I have 19 hens. 10 of them were born in March of 2015 (making them about a year and 4 months old). Various laying breeds. The other 9 were born february of this year, making them about 5 months old. They are fed an 18% pellet feed, and have free choice oyster shell. They are in the coop until about 12 or 2pm and then free range our farm for 6-8 hours until they put themselves to bed. No changes recently. They have all been together for about 4 months.
The problem is that I'm only getting about 7 eggs a day, sometimes less but never more. Shouldn't they be laying better? Used to get about 1 a day from the 10 older ones...I know at least 4 of the younger pullets are laying (I see their tiny eggs). But why am I not getting more out of the adults? I feel like they should be laying better. They are not laying outside of the coop, I know where they hang out and such and they aren't laying anywhere else. Not sure if there's something more I can be doing for them or if that sounds about right.
Second problem is for the last week or so I've noticed broken eggs in the nesting boxes. At first I just thought it was an accident. Then there was a broken one the next day. And the next day. Today there was yolk in the bottom of one of the nesting boxes but no egg shell. I don't understand what to do or if that's an issue. I can't tell if its on purpose or what. It's always in a nesting box with other eggs in it and it's only ever been one egg in the box. Not always the same nesting box either.
They are all acting completely normal.
Any advice?
Some details first. I have 19 hens. 10 of them were born in March of 2015 (making them about a year and 4 months old). Various laying breeds. The other 9 were born february of this year, making them about 5 months old. They are fed an 18% pellet feed, and have free choice oyster shell. They are in the coop until about 12 or 2pm and then free range our farm for 6-8 hours until they put themselves to bed. No changes recently. They have all been together for about 4 months.
The problem is that I'm only getting about 7 eggs a day, sometimes less but never more. Shouldn't they be laying better? Used to get about 1 a day from the 10 older ones...I know at least 4 of the younger pullets are laying (I see their tiny eggs). But why am I not getting more out of the adults? I feel like they should be laying better. They are not laying outside of the coop, I know where they hang out and such and they aren't laying anywhere else. Not sure if there's something more I can be doing for them or if that sounds about right.
Second problem is for the last week or so I've noticed broken eggs in the nesting boxes. At first I just thought it was an accident. Then there was a broken one the next day. And the next day. Today there was yolk in the bottom of one of the nesting boxes but no egg shell. I don't understand what to do or if that's an issue. I can't tell if its on purpose or what. It's always in a nesting box with other eggs in it and it's only ever been one egg in the box. Not always the same nesting box either.
They are all acting completely normal.
Any advice?