Egg Problems

[Alison Pony]

We have 32 hens and we get about 23 eggs per day,is that normal? We are having trouble with egg pecking. They stop for awhile then they start pecking again. The nesting boxes get dirty so fast. Any tips for keeping them clean? The chicken coop is a mess. Is there away we could keep it cleaner?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

How big is your coop? What type of bedding do you use? Also what type of bedding is in the nestboxes? Where is the dirt from? Ground or poop? Poop boards can help or cleaning under the roosts regularly.

Egg eating is usually from a lack of protein or boredom. What are you feeding? Layer ration often doesn't have enough protein for hens that eat anything besides it, so a higher protein feed is recommended. Also your nest should be darkened, high enough so hens are looking into them and seeing snacks, and it's best to collect eggs frequently and to have fake eggs that are hard when pecked to discourage it.

 

[Alison Pony]

Our coop is 10 by 16. We have a mix of straw and shavings in right now. We have shavings in the nesting boxes. The dirt is from outside and poop. We are feeding Purina Layer feed.
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[darkhollar]

I apologize for jumping into this conversation but I just joined this site and I have no idea where to go to on the site to ask others questions about my chickens

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So your run is muddy? Is that big? My hens will sometimes poop while laying an egg, I clean mine about every week or two. The coop I do deep litter in winter and more frequent cleaning in the warmer months. I would switch to an all flock or a non medicated grower to get more protein in their diet, 18-20% seems to be better than the 16% in layer. Always provide a separate dish of oyster shells.

 

[Alison Pony]

Do they actually need oyster shell? it is in the feed. Sometimes the shells are hard to crack

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's always best to give them the option, it's cheap and they don't consume much, but if the need more calcium they will also go after the eggs for it.