Egg production is down

[Clukcluks]

No supplement is going to make them restart laying now. Molting is hard on them and they need protein, not calcium. Actually, extra calcium could hurt them when they are not laying. They will start laying again in a few months.

What type of protein should I give them My crumble feed is 20%, and I treat them to some scratch at 18%. What else can I do for them.

 

[StinkyAcres]

What type of protein should I give them My crumble feed is 20%, and I treat them to some scratch at 18%. What else can I do for them.

Sounds like they are getting good feed. Have you checked them for mites and lice? To be honest, they look rough for only being 7-8 months old.

 

[Clukcluks]

Sounds like they are getting good feed. Have you checked them for mites and lice? To be honest, they look rough for only being 7-8 months old.

Sounds like they are getting good feed. Have you checked them for mites and lice? To be honest, they look rough for only being 7-8 months old.

 

[Clukcluks]

Sounds like they are getting good feed. Have you checked them for mites and lice? To be honest, they look rough for only being 7-8 months old.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Yes, they started molting. Yes, shorter days.
I'm considering giving them Non-GMO High-Calcium Worms. What do you think??

I think that's a terrible idea, tbh. Feed them the all-flock feed or whatever you are giving them that has the 20% protein in it. I don't understand what you mean by "18% scratch." You should only be providing them about a Tbsp of scratch for each hen, or it should not be more than 10% of their total feed on any given day. It's a treat. So just like you would only give a small amount of ice cream to a child, you should only give your chickens a small amount of scratch. As another poster said, they do not need calcium if they are not laying. So if you put a bowl or other vessel of oyster shell in your coop, the hens that need it will take what they need, and the chickens that are not actively laying will leave it alone. Don't worry if it looks like they are not eating it, it doesn't take much to supply their needs. If you supply a good commercial feed, oyster shell and grit, along with clean fresh water, you are a rock star chicken keeper!

 

[SkyAJK]

View attachment 4240185Not sure what breed she is, but the others 2 are leghorns and I have 1 red, all 7,8 months old. One of them is healing from bubble foot. She's fine now. Feeding them crumbles 20%, treat them scratch is 18% View attachment 4240187

Beautiful girls you got there.

You are feeding your hens 20% protein is a great % already. This high protein will help them grow new feather.

As @StinkyAcres stated, no amount of protein will get them lay egg as they are molting. The body concentrates on growing new feather and they need it for the soon coming cold weather.

My Wyandottee, Australorp, Pekin and Japanese bantam do not lay egg in winter at all. They all come to a sudden stop.

My ISA brown hens are production layer, they lay egg until they drop, in between laying egg every day throughout the year, they suffer reproductive issues.

So if you want your chicken to lay egg in winter, production breed will do it, but keep in mind they will suffer reproductive issues from around 1.5 year of age. They eat like they have been starving forever, and no matter how much they eat, they look terrible and skinny. That are my ISA Brown.

 

[StinkyAcres]

So if you want your chicken to lay egg in winter, production breed will do it

The OP has production breeds - White Leghorns. I'm wondering if there is a parasite issue going on.

 

[SkyAJK]

The OP has production breeds - White Leghorns. I'm wondering if there is a parasite issue going on.

@The Moonshiner is White Leghorns expert, I remember I read it somewhere on BYC.

I do not have Leghorns in my flock.

​

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@The Moonshiner is White Leghorns expert, I remember I read it somewhere on BYC.

I do not have Leghorns in my flock.

​

Leghorns of all descriptions, not just white. Isn't that right, Moony?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Days are getting shorter add a few more hours of lighting throughout the shorter winter days.