hens not laying

[D-Bar-B]

Good afternoon! I'm a bit perplexed, so am looking for some help. The man that gave me my first 6 hens asked my hubby today if my hens were still laying (which they are)...apparently he's not getting ANY eggs and hasn't for a couple weeks. I bet he has at least 20 hens that should be laying. He did have 3 broody hens that he's separated. He asked me what he needed to do differently to get them to start laying again. (this is why I'm perplexed...he's the old rancher, I figured he knew all the answers). I joked with him and said he needs to sing to them every morning (I do talk/sing to mine daily) and he needs to start sitting with them while he gives them bananas and meal worms as treats . He wasn't impressed I do know that they're basically in a big coop but the run isn't very big and they don't free-range. I don't have the heart to tell this old rancher that I think the living conditions for his chickens is less than acceptable (in my mind). They're just livestock to him and that's ok, but I do spoil my chickens. He said they have access to layer mash and scratch 24/7. In my newbie mind of chicken keeping, I think he needs to take the scratch away and make sure they're getting enough layer feed and oyster shell for egg production...but again, I'm really new.

Can someone give me some real advice to share with him. Thank you in advance!
~Barbie

 

[Onslow's Hens]

I agree about the scratch. It should be fed as a treat, couple of handfuls occasionally. If they have access to both scratch and layer mash - they will feast on the scratch and ignor the layer feed. To much scratch and they will not lay. If they are not free ranging and getting grass and bugs, keeping them on a balanced diet is critical for them to produce eggs. Scratch is like eating cheeseburgers and French fries everyday, all day. You will survive but you will not perform. Also, they need access to sunlight and fresh air. If they are housed completely indoors, they may lay but not very good. Just my two cents.

 

[BullChick]

Ditto. I too had to educate the neighbor chicken keepers that were so smug about knowing everything. Then they came to me for eggs repeatedly. I finally discovered they were only giving cracked corn. They had never kept birds long enough to realize their mistake.

 

[Chickassan]

There isn't a nice way to tell anybody that their hens are depressed and eating too much candy.
Especially old ranchers.
Poor things, spoiled hens goes off lay over nearly anything or at least mine do.
So it has to be bad if these girls have thrown in the towel.

 

[D-Bar-B]

I agree about the scratch. It should be fed as a treat, couple of handfuls occasionally. If they have access to both scratch and layer mash - they will feast on the scratch and ignor the layer feed. To much scratch and they will not lay. If they are not free ranging and getting grass and bugs, keeping them on a balanced diet is critical for them to produce eggs. Scratch is like eating cheeseburgers and French fries everyday, all day. You will survive but you will not perform. Also, they need access to sunlight and fresh air. If they are housed completely indoors, they may lay but not very good. Just my two cents.

Thank you! The coop is more like a lean-to, so they do have plenty of fresh air and sunlight (we live in West Texas...they're always sun!). I'm glad to know I was right in telling him to try cutting out the scratch and give them only layer mash for awhile to see if they start laying again. I also suggested putting some The Chicken Chick Spruce the Coop Herbal Fusion in his nesting boxes...pretty sure that's NOT gonna happen. I can say my girls LOVE having that in their nesting boxes.

 

[50-45-1]

If his chickens are in close confinement, he may have an egg eating problem which may have started because of boredom. If the combs of the chickens are bright red, i suspect they ARE laying eggs.
Feather picking may not be far behind this.
Lots of problems are caused by overcrowding of chickens.

 

[D-Bar-B]

If his chickens are in close confinement, he may have an egg eating problem which may have started because of boredom. If the combs of the chickens are bright red, i suspect they ARE laying eggs.
Feather picking may not be far behind this.
Lots of problems are caused by overcrowding of chickens.

I haven't been out there in awhile, but don't believe there is overcrowding. Mine are just spoiled with enough room for triple the amount that I have. Thank you for the feedback!

 

[50-45-1]

Chickens in confinement with a small run would also need grit in order to digest the feed they are given. Not so much for the layer mash, but without grit in their crop the scratch and any other scraps or treats are probably not be broken down.

 

[aart]

I also suggested putting some The Chicken Chick Spruce the Coop Herbal Fusion in his nesting boxes...pretty sure that's NOT gonna happen. I can say my girls LOVE having that in their nesting boxes.

Oh, I bet that went over well.
Seriously, no reason to herb and spice your chickens until just before you cook them

 

[Chickassan]

No offense intended at ALL but that bag just screams certifiable lunatic lol!
I think its the frazzly little chickens on there.

Thank you! The coop is more like a lean-to, so they do have plenty of fresh air and sunlight (we live in West Texas...they're always sun!). I'm glad to know I was right in telling him to try cutting out the scratch and give them only layer mash for awhile to see if they start laying again. I also suggested putting some The Chicken Chick Spruce the Coop Herbal Fusion in his nesting boxes...pretty sure that's NOT gonna happen. I can say my girls LOVE having that in their nesting boxes.