Feed VS Egg Production

[SandraChick]

I'm lucky....I have 10 hens and 1roo (and 3 ducks) on 1/2 an acre....they free range and thus don't eat much feed at all.

Fresh greens make for wonderful quality eggs.... Making flats of wheat grass to trade in and out of the pen is a great way to supplement greens....As well as growing extra greens in the garden (they get all my not so pretty veggies!)

Chickens are NOT pigs....unless feeding them all your leftovers makes them such...I call them my little garbage disposals. What is the truth is that unless you have fryers...they do NOT overeat. Thus leaving quality feed out 24/7 will give you the best results. Offer Oyster Shell Free Choice...even if you feed them layer--

I'm also against trying to keep chickens laying year-round. They need their energy to molt as well as to give their systems a break (ie- rebuild their bones and muscles from the robbing of calcium and proteins). Extending their laying can be ok...just give them a yearly break. I try to get 2 new chickens /year or so.....that will begin laying in Oct/Nov...so that when the regular flock goes through their molt and "break", I still get eggs from the young ones.

Treats are not necessary, but fun...as with humans-- a little is ok--too much is not ok.

Good luck
Sandra

 

[numamahen]

Here is an interesting link that may shead some light on the hard to peel eggs!! We all strive for fresh - in hard boiled, older may be better!

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/10/eggs-hard-to-peel/

 

[Phelanite]

Thank you all for the comments. Tomorrow I will start feeding 24/7 and see if production is up and get a good count on how much feed they go through in 7 days that way there is a base. As someone commented about fryers eating more feed, my Sexlinks are suppose to be good for cooking and laying do you think that they could be the more consuming ones? It seems my Leghorns pull off the food the soonest. I don't know if I said it earlier but all my hens are the same age new this year in the first part of May. Would it be bad to let them lay until say Feb. March? or will they startup again by then naturally ? Right now I am in a co op and we are about thhe only egg suppliers this time of year. Today the co op took 16 dozen. No this is not for profit not much anyway but it is interesting. My next project is raising some beef (if I can ever get the corral/pen up). Also I forgot to mention they do free range some. I live on 5 acres but in the upper desert of Southern California.

 

[silkiechicken]

I've had leghorns and sexlinks. Leghorns by far are the most efficient egg producers to be had. My adults were 3-4lbs and were light eaters while my sexlinks are all 5-6lbs and eat like pigs while not really laying as much.

 

[Phelanite]

My sexlinks are laying really well. I dumped 50lbs of feed into 3 feeders today and as usual they all went crazy but then something weird happened they all stopped eating about 5 min. after they started. Feeding them all 24/7 is an advantage as I don't have to be here 2 times a day (morning & afternoon). We will see how much they consume. I really want to do an automated watering system maybe with some thing like an trough and a swamp cooler float. Also today I introduced the dogs to the hens and so far no fatalities/ injuries. We did it slowly with leashes and then when I figured they were cool with it I took off the leashes. 1 Chocolate Lab (Female) 1 Rottwieller (Female). The lab is easy, the Rott maybe needs watching for awhile. I want to let all out at the same time and not have to worry.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Here are some great automatic waterers that I have used. They have a spring loaded valve in the stem so that when the bowl fills up the weight of the water shuts off the valve.

http://www.cutlersupply.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=11_60_62&products_id=501

 

[Phelanite]

Ok here it is I have feed measured amounts 24/7 for a week for my birds and they have consummed 92lbs of feed in 7 days that is 4.291 ounces per day. Even when the feeders have feed in them and I go and shake them or add feed they still come over and eat like they haven't eaten for a month. Agressiveness seems to have subsided. They are still getting what scraps and freerange for at least 3 hours per day. Also the dogs (to my amazement) have been really good and easy to introduce. As far as egg production it seems to be the same if I feed 2 ounces or 4 ounces per day. I do notice that my Leghorns pull off the feed sooner than the rest. The problem with free ranging now is everytime I open the gate to the run everyone thinks it's time to escape. They are really easy to get back in though and I oftern have all 49 running around eating everything. Spring time will be awsome as we get plenty of weeds and bugs to eat.