- Feb 24, 2018
- 3
- 0
- 60
I am on my second flock and have not had good luck with them laying "throughout their lives." My first flock layed well until they were about 18 months old and then stopped completely. The current flock only layed for about 9 months and stopped. They started up again after about 7 months (molting) but that only lasted a few weeks and now have completely stopped again. I am starting to think that I am doing something wrong.
I use an all-flock layer crumble and make sure that they have plenty of fresh water. They free range during the summer and I give them grit when they are confined. They also have crushed egg shells and/or oyster shell available free choice. I occasionally give them scratch grain, cracked corn, cooked oatmeal, cornmeal, or rice, or dandelion greens, especially in winter.
Is it possible that the jiggly water nipples don't deliver enough water? I give them open water when its not freezing but not during the winter. They layed all throughout the first winter. I have not found that giving them a light during the winter makes any difference. The first winter everybody layed pretty much every day with our without a light.
The first flock had their eggshells go very thin toward the end but this flock's eggs are fine.
The breeds are barred rock and buff orpington.
I use an all-flock layer crumble and make sure that they have plenty of fresh water. They free range during the summer and I give them grit when they are confined. They also have crushed egg shells and/or oyster shell available free choice. I occasionally give them scratch grain, cracked corn, cooked oatmeal, cornmeal, or rice, or dandelion greens, especially in winter.
Is it possible that the jiggly water nipples don't deliver enough water? I give them open water when its not freezing but not during the winter. They layed all throughout the first winter. I have not found that giving them a light during the winter makes any difference. The first winter everybody layed pretty much every day with our without a light.
The first flock had their eggshells go very thin toward the end but this flock's eggs are fine.
The breeds are barred rock and buff orpington.
Haven't seen you around here before - 
