leia_and_friends
Chirping
Hi BYCers!
I have 5 chooks in a run around my poolyard (it's an above ground pool). 4 are pure breeds - I have a Light Sussex, a BR, a GLW, and a Faverolles and a 3/4 Australorp (who has absolutely no troubles with egg production). They were hatched in late January this year, so they haven't been laying for long.
Currently, I'm only getting 1 or 2 eggs a day - the BR hasn't laid for ages since being broody, and the Faverolles has gone from 1 egg every 3 days, to no eggs at all. My GLW is quite sporadic with her laying; recently she was laying one a day, but not anymore... The Sussex does an egg song most days, but there's usually nothing in the nest box (and I've looked very carefully!). She can get a bit frustrated by this, and sometimes runs around clucking angrily when she can't lay.
They are having an 18 or 19% protein powdery layer feed (which is the very best my feed store/hatchery has; it's made by them and is used for their birds). They have oyster shell available, but don't seem too interested, except when I hand feed it at night. Which I haven't been doing much lately. I also give them food processed veggie scraps, and quite a lot of sprouted wheat... I get the feeling they don't eat masses of their layer feed, although I may be wrong.
What do I need to give them to help them lay better? Is it just because it's early summer over here in Australia, and the heat makes them struggle?
They were laying really well before, but since a wave of broodiness hit the flock a while ago, egg production has gone downhill. Only one is broody at the moment, but she's not even that bad - she doesn't sit on the nest constantly (although she would if she had constant access to her preferred box). She just runs around doing those gentle broody clucks and is a bit more grumpy than usual.
Do they not have enough protein? The knowledgeable man at the feed store said that chickens can't handle much more than 19% protein in their feed, although I'd read otherwise. Maybe Australian chickens need less protein than chooks in colder climates? I have been giving them less treats and veggies than usual, so would that make a difference?
Anyway, I'd love any advice on this subject! I'm sure there have been thousands of people who've managed to boost egg production in some way or other... I just need that magic and elusive egg-boosting formula!
~ Jemima
I have 5 chooks in a run around my poolyard (it's an above ground pool). 4 are pure breeds - I have a Light Sussex, a BR, a GLW, and a Faverolles and a 3/4 Australorp (who has absolutely no troubles with egg production). They were hatched in late January this year, so they haven't been laying for long.
Currently, I'm only getting 1 or 2 eggs a day - the BR hasn't laid for ages since being broody, and the Faverolles has gone from 1 egg every 3 days, to no eggs at all. My GLW is quite sporadic with her laying; recently she was laying one a day, but not anymore... The Sussex does an egg song most days, but there's usually nothing in the nest box (and I've looked very carefully!). She can get a bit frustrated by this, and sometimes runs around clucking angrily when she can't lay.
They are having an 18 or 19% protein powdery layer feed (which is the very best my feed store/hatchery has; it's made by them and is used for their birds). They have oyster shell available, but don't seem too interested, except when I hand feed it at night. Which I haven't been doing much lately. I also give them food processed veggie scraps, and quite a lot of sprouted wheat... I get the feeling they don't eat masses of their layer feed, although I may be wrong.
What do I need to give them to help them lay better? Is it just because it's early summer over here in Australia, and the heat makes them struggle?
They were laying really well before, but since a wave of broodiness hit the flock a while ago, egg production has gone downhill. Only one is broody at the moment, but she's not even that bad - she doesn't sit on the nest constantly (although she would if she had constant access to her preferred box). She just runs around doing those gentle broody clucks and is a bit more grumpy than usual.
Do they not have enough protein? The knowledgeable man at the feed store said that chickens can't handle much more than 19% protein in their feed, although I'd read otherwise. Maybe Australian chickens need less protein than chooks in colder climates? I have been giving them less treats and veggies than usual, so would that make a difference?
Anyway, I'd love any advice on this subject! I'm sure there have been thousands of people who've managed to boost egg production in some way or other... I just need that magic and elusive egg-boosting formula!
~ Jemima
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