Feed Affecting Laying

[chicken_crazy93]

Hello, I hope everyone is doin fine. I want to pass on some info I got the other day. I was up in the holler the other evenin talkin to a buddy of mine that's raised chicken's & been in the chicken business since '82. He wanted to send a Muff Roo home with me to breed my two muff hens with & hatch off a batch for him. I brought him home & plan on doin that but here's what I want to pass on: I saw quite a few eggs, at least twenty, that he had on the porch railin to take in the house & I asked him how many hens was layin right now. He said that all of his hen's are layin & even some of his six month old pullets have started layin & it's gettin down in the 20's at night here in Union County & not out of the lower 30's durin the day. I told him I was gettin maybe one egg every other day out of 16 hens that are 1 1/2 to 2 yrs. old. He said I'm feedin to much & to cut way back on my feed & I would see a he** of a difference in them & be gettin eggs everyday from just about every hen. He said to feed a Veianna (sp?) Sausage size can of feed a day for each bird. He also mixed me up a gallon jug of wormer as I told him I had never wormed my chicken's just put ACV in their water daily.

I took their water away yesterday morning & I gave them the wormer water this mornin & after they drank it all this afternoon, I brought their bowl inside to wash it out. I will give them their ACV water in the mornin just like before & I have cut back on their feed big time, just givin them what he said. His bird's free range all the time just like mine. He also said if I give them any "treats" as I call em, to count that as part of their feed for the day but he said he doesn't give anything but layin pellets & J.J game bird scratch. His bird's are great lookin & heavy & just very happy lookin. Now when I say he's been in the chicken business since '82, I mean he's raised game birds & sold them all over the country & even shipped some to Tialand accross the waters but since they have made chicken fightin a felony he only raises big stock birds, no more game at all. I have known this feller for over 20 yrs., handled a few birds for him back when I was younger & I really respect his knowledge. He told me to give it a week after cuttin back on the feed & watch out, lol. I won't be eatin any of the eggs they do lay for ten days so we shall see.

I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Christmas & a VERY nice New Year

 

[bigoakhunter]

Will be interested to hear in a week or so what the outcome is......Let us know.

 

[swimmer]

Let us know. Would be very interested of the results.

 

[chicken_crazy93]

I sure will.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

I'm super curious about this. I have a friend who gives her chickens food once a day and it's measured out. I just thought she was doing this to be frugal. Maybe she knows something I don't.

 

[chicken_crazy93]

Well, I did what he said & still the same on the eggs. Just gettin one every other day or so. He must not be tellin me ALL his secrets, lol, cause he's still gettin a whole mess of eggs every day. I'm just gonna keep on feedin like I use to & let nature take it's course. I have cut out their treats though, other than maybe a can of sardines or tuna every once in a while.

 

[sharol]

Thanks for posting results. I was wondering about this theory. It seems counter-intuitive during the cold of winter, but who knows?

 

[crazyhen]

If anything helps it will probably be the worming. I found afterwards that my hens have started laying better. They still get the same amt of feed. I am getting about 8 to 11 eggs aday now. Gloria Jean

 

[sourland]

Logically there is no reason such a regimen should work unless his chickens have a hidden stash of feed.

Does he provide supplemental light? If he does and you don't, that could be the difference.

 

[CMV]

Actually, there are some studies that indicate overfeeding hens will cause them to have laying issues. Studies have indicated that hens allowed to become fat will slow down production. The general gist of the studies I read was that fat builds up around the ovaries and decreases the number of eggs that the body can/will release. The only reason I saw these studies was because they related to fat sows (pigs) not being able to reproduce for the same reasons. Sorry I can't find the info again to show it to everyone. It was years ago that I read them.

That being said, I have never once seen a hen I would consider too fat. Chickens generally don't run to fat, just the opposite has been my experience. I would be more concerned this time of year about worms and lighting issues.