How can I bulk up my Jersey Giants?

[BirdGirl2004]

Hi guys, I am thinking ahead to 4-h time, and I don't have many birds of alike breeds, but do have two Jersey Giants. I want to make sure that they are big, (standard weight) and not under weight. I also want to makes sure that they are laying eggs. (They have not laid any for about 2-3 months not.) In my county fair, the main things you are looking for is egg production, but I fear that mine are not going to lay enough? Am I just paranoid, or will they start picking up again in the spring? I have 12 chickens, and I feed them about 8-10 cups a day, but they get outside to pasture every day also. So, in conclusion, i need help figuring out how to bulk them up, without making them too fat to lay eggs. Thanks!!
Also, if anyone has any pictures of there Jersey Giants, I would be happy to see!!

 

[besorto]

I fed my jersey giant hen more treats (mealworms, dried corn, pumpkin seeds) and she's pretty big in my opinion. She also lays a HUGE egg everyday.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

I fed my jersey giant hen more treats (mealworms, dried corn, pumpkin seeds) and she's pretty big in my opinion. She also lays a HUGE egg everyday.

Ok, I'll try to give more treats out... do you think that I am feeding the chicken enough food, and if I am not and I do start feeding them more, will she get bigger then?

 

[besorto]

I feel like you're feeding them enough. Too much food could be a bad thing too. It could get spoiled while out and they don't finish it. I wouldn't want my chickens eating old food.

 

[Tlmcq]

How old is she? And, yes her production will pick back up in Spring when days get longer....sunlight=eggs.
Jerseys are bit slower to mature so may just be that she's young. What kind of feed do you have her on? Too many treats will drop production due to not eating feed which has all needed minerals and vitamins and will decrease foraging. I feed Nutrena Hearty Hen its an 18% protein layer with probiotics, as opposed to regular 16% but it can be hard to find in some areas. I had to ask one of my local feed store that carried Nutrena to order for me when I moved. Most Rural King stores carry it too.

 

[Chullicken]

This really isn't a great time for egg production in your usual chicken variety. Given fair time I believe is later on in the year, think you will be fine with a normal regiment. They will judge them based off of pigmentation or lack there of in the skin and shanks as hens absorb their coloration to apply to egg production, i.e. ear lobes, wattles, comb, vent discoloration etc. Only thing that bothers me is with a high level of treats comes increased fat and protein intake and the use of 'fatten' you'll have a hen or hens with excess body fat which isn't a plus for the standard if you're being judged on more than just production and egg quality.

 

[BirdGirl2004]

How old is she? And, yes her production will pick back up in Spring when days get longer....sunlight=eggs.
Jerseys are bit slower to mature so may just be that she's young. What kind of feed do you have her on? Too many treats will drop production due to not eating feed which has all needed minerals and vitamins and will decrease foraging. I feed Nutrena Hearty Hen its an 18% protein layer with probiotics, as opposed to regular 16% but it can be hard to find in some areas. I had to ask one of my local feed store that carried Nutrena to order for me when I moved. Most Rural King stores carry it too.

I think she's like 8 months... I got her from somebody else, and she was laying great, and then she stopped a little while after we brought her home. I have been feeding them grower feed, and then about a week or more ago started feeding them non gmo- organic feed from seven sons (they a large place that sells there own eggs) They grow all of there own feed grains, so it should be pretty good. It's 16%.

 

[Tlmcq]

She'll bulk up. She's still young pullet. Egg production can change with feed change too. When she starts laying again she will need a layer feed instead of grower and free choice oyster shell in separate bowl. The grower doesn't have the needed calcium for egg shell production. All my girls have stopped laying as well but will start going again in Spring. I get that rare egg every so often but for most part they're done til Spring this time of year.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Use a higher protein feed. You don't need a layer feed if your using oyster shell on the side. My birds get 20% from day one. Entire flock moves to non medicated starter when we have chicks in spring then entire flock moves to turkey/gamebird finisher when the chicks are around 10 weeks. Both feeds are 20% protein, one is crumble and other pellet form.

 

[EggWalrus]

Use a higher protein feed. You don't need a layer feed if your using oyster shell on the side. My birds get 20% from day one. Entire flock moves to non medicated starter when we have chicks in spring then entire flock moves to turkey/gamebird finisher when the chicks are around 10 weeks. Both feeds are 20% protein, one is crumble and other pellet form.

This is my routine also. I'll usually give them enough non-gmo hi-pro pellets that they can get full just before dark and have some breakfast to wake up to before I release them to forage each morning. I also keep a feeder full with oyster shell so they have it as their body craves calcium. All my birds are good about coming back to the nests to lay, but I have 2 Mischievious Leghorns I am gonna need to retrain to lay in the nests.