Feeding to get more eggs?

[farmgirlie1031]

I know this crazy weather is affecting my hens laying. I saw somewhere there was something to feed them to try and get them to lay more eggs but now I can't find where I saw it? I am going to worm them ASAP just in case they might have worms. They do get layer crumbles, oyster shell, grit, and treats. I'm only getting 2 eggs out of 7 hens (year old hens) and that's about every other day. My BB Game is about a year old also and she was giving me an egg every day and now it's been 2 weeks. She does not appear to be egg bound. I gave them some olive oil soaked bread as a treat today. Anything else I can try? I think I read somewhere to put some apple cider vinager in the water.

 

[Josie]

Is there any chance your girls are hiding eggs? Or in molt? That is not a lot of eggs for 7 one year old hens.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

They are in pens and I looked all over the pen for eggs. The only other thing I could think of was a snake stealing the eggs. Or just the insane weather changes.

A few of the group of 7 are in molt but not all of them are. I even put Poultry Guard on them in case it was mites instead of a molt.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I guess it is just the crazy weather. I tried to google and all I kept finding was to feed them layer pellets. But I know I saw a magic feed formula somewhere before that would give you more eggs than you knew what to do with.

 

[Poorfarmer]

you thinking about the cyene pepper in corn meal solution i think. i saw it in the 200 eggs a year downloadable book.

 

[farmgirlie1031]

Quote:
Thank You. Maybe that was it

 

[cajunlizz]

Quote:
OK , NOW you got me curious . Whats the formula for that . ?

 

[Poorfarmer]

i have seen it someplace looking 4 it was something like one pouch to 10# corn meal

 

[farmgirlie1031]

I'll start searching around for it also. It sounds like something i would like to try as long as it doesn't hurt the hens. I really want some eggs out of these gals.

 

[bills]

Light hours and protein is important for layers. Make sure your giving them a high protein layer feed 16% plus, and not overdoing the low protein treats. I have no idea what the number of natural daylight hours are in your area at this time of the year, but if the weather has been overcast a lot, you probably need to supplement their light hours.

I have a light on a timer that comes on at 3.30 am. With the long days now here, I find that it gets dark at 9.30-9.45pm. so I don't have one on at evening. They should have 16 hours plus of light to stimulate them. If you keep them inside all day, you should have a light on in the house all day, with it turning off just before the natural daylight fades, so they can get to roost.