Egg production and overcrowding

[User635240]

Hi. I guess this is more of an observation than a question, but am interested in feedback. I have a barn divided into 900sq ft for the goats and around 25 hens who voluntarily stay in there. There is also a garage space 240 sqft with a fenced 200 sq ft run, and around 100 chickens (80Female, 20Male) in there. The smaller flock yields about two dozen eggs a day, while the larger flock only yields 3-5 dozen eggs a day. The smaller flock seems to get by on goat poop, hay, and a little grain but the larger flock even with access to the outdoors consumes maybe 30-40lbs of grain a day. My plan is to move all the chickens outdoors into a dozen Suscovich style tractors. The larger flock also had roundworm and upper respiratory disease recently so egg production dropped to two dozen a day. I assume that this is due to overcrowding, or too many roosters?

 

[sourland]

I'd correct both problems by increasing the space and removing 15 of the roosters.

 

[User635240]

I'd correct both problems by increasing the space and removing 15 of the roosters.

The roosters are Genetic hackle so they'd need special housing not culling.

 

[sourland]

The roosters are Genetic hackle so they'd need special housing not culling.

That's why I suggested 'removing'. That many roosters must be overbreeding the hens. Are the hens Genetic Hackle also? That, too, could explain the low laying rate.

 

[HollowOfWisps]

The roosters are Genetic hackle so they'd need special housing not culling.

Culling just means removing from your original flock. It does not mean killing. Killing is just one of the several methods of culling. Culling can also be separating or selling off.