How can I make my hens produce more eggs?

[ChickenCanoe]

All good points.
DIET

Layer ration is formulated based on 100 years of research as to what makes the most eggs.
They love treats but that upsets the balance that makes the most eggs. I like my birds to have access to lots of greens and bugs.
Most of the time mine stay on a strict layer ration, I quit feeding corn all together. For scratch, I feed a blend of seeds - mostly millet and black oil sunflower. The sunflower is great for protein and fat.
When it's cold I will supplement some 20% grower late in the day mixed with water which they avidly clean up. This sends them to bed well hydrated with extra protein. Eggs are mostly water so liquid water is critical.
Free choice crushed oyster shell supplements the calcium in the layer feed. They'll eat what they need.
Canned cat food(salmon) is a protein boost as are crickets and mealworms.

LIGHT
Yesterday was the shortest day of the year. Using lights to bump up to at least 12 hours will give you more eggs within 2 weeks.
Animals including chickens tend to give birth in the spring. This is why chickens are influenced by increasing light.
Prior to the 1900s and intensive agriculture, layers produced about 30 eggs a year - mostly in the spring. Now they average 250.

as to breed - individual birds tend to deviate from breed norm. I have 6 rocks, 2 orps and 2 Giants. Half of my eggs come from the latter 4 birds.
good luck

 

[chickendude1]

I have noticed that oyster shells mixed with laying mash make chickens lay more or start laying ,but thats just my exsperience

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
Industrial feed?

Some of it may not have the diversity of ingredients that some desire, but I don't think most of it is any less wholesome, especially when when supplemented with some natural forage.

I think the thing that puts off most people is "the big unknown". They question what kind of strange stuff the "evil" feed companies are putting in there, but for the most part it is domestic grains.

I get our organic feed from one of our local organic mills. Yes, I realize everybody is not so fortunate to have a local source... I know what is going in there as it is grown in fields all over our area and sold to the mill to fill their bins; corn, wheat, field peas, and soybeans that are processed in their own soybean processing facility. I have bought thousands of bushels of organic corn from our neighbors, who grow it right in our valley, and had it delivered to the mill to be "banked" for our use. I can get next day delivery of any custom mix I want, yet the same mill sells common mixes of bagged organic feed all over the region. Just because it comes in a bag, doesn't make it inferior.

No worries my friend...

Local + Orgainic=

I am just not big on mixes high in corn and soy, organic and GMO free or not (which is just me)...


I see HorizonSon's point though, Chickens have been raised since humans domesticated livestock without "Purina mills" providing everything you need in a bag... We all have brains in our head, and with a little research and knowledge, people can formulate their own feed...
IMO as soon as you move away from production breeds and the need to squeeze every penny out of every bird, the world is wide open to creating your own custom "better egg"..

IMO one does not need to feel guilty about not supporting and not buying the "scientifically formulated" stuff the billion dollar industry tries to tell us we "need" in order to have a healthy chicken or a chicken that lays eggs...

ON

 

[Organics North]

Quote:
I simply offer oyster shells in a separate feeder. This way it is free choice the birds can decide how much they need... Me I find a boost of protein at laying age gets them going...

I mean really, look how far the feed companies push this... Starter, grower, layer on and on... Really the only differences are the % protein and whether or not calcium is added. It is all about marketing and paying for the convenience of having everything you need in a bag, so you do not have to think about it... (Yes you do pay for this service!)

I think my chickens are smarter than the marketing folks at some big ole feed company...

Me I let my chickens decide how much oyster shells they need.. via offering them free choice in a separate feeder

ON

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Have you thought about adding supplemental lighting in the winter? Pullets are not as effected by the shorter day length their first winter laying. Most will lay through their first winter without a problem. As adult hens, they begin to have seasonal decreases to their laying. They may become broody, have hard molts and stop laying when the days grow shorter. Sometimes, this takes people by surprise, when chickens that laid well their first winter slow down or stop in their second winter. Just something to think about.

It takes a certain amount of excess nutrients to make an egg, including protein and water. If chickens aren't getting enough, they may not produce an egg every day. Their first priority is to use their food and water for their own body's maintenance. I free feed. If they lay well for you the rest of the year and are on the same diet, it's probably not a feed problem. Do they have water available all the time? They aren't short on water because of frozen water, are they?

My best guess would be a lighting problem.

 

[Jane Jill Jack]

I cannot add extra light, (lamp) but I am feeding the hens more proterin, and yesterday I got 6 eggs, which is better then I've had in a long time. Thank you for the help.

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

Quote:
How are you providing more protein?? BOSS? or Flock Raiser (or something similar). I'm debating on difff ways to raise my protein levels to get more eggs, i already have a lamp on a timer in place (to make 13 hrs of light total). ever since i added boss to that mix i've had sudden bursts in egg production.

My layer pellets are 15% free-choice and free ranged all day, with added 1.5 cups of boss for 8 girls. Ever since i started doing that about 3 days ago I'm getting about 4 out of 8 per day. when before adding that much boss i was only getting 1 or 2.

Can anyone weigh in on my feeding operations??

 

[Lotsapaints]

Flock Raiser is 20%? I think it is and if you prefer to use "commercial" feed I think that would work for you try a bag an see if you like it but now the days are getting longer....

 

[Farmergreen]

Quote:
Because it lowers the amount of protein that they are getting. Layer feed is a complete ration that should give them everything they need. Feeding a little scratch is useful to increase their energy intake in the winter when they are burning a lot of energy to keep warm, but too much scratch and too many table scraps only dilutes what they should be getting from their regular ration.

I agree with the feeding process here. Mine get Lay pellets 16% availible 24/7. I feed enough scratch only on cold days ( below 40F) that it is all eaten in less than 10mins.
I have a mixed flock of brown egg layers. 50% some of the winter months 80+% the rest of the time. Hand mix a little ostyur shells in once or twice a week. They will only eat enough shells to satisfy the calcium needed. I've got 30 hens 50# of shells last me all year.
But the reason for less scratch and scraps isn't dilution but to much Protien. To much protien upsets the reproductive cycle causing it to start and stop. Also Mac is right about formulas of feed you get exactly what you need if you buy good feed.

edit this with a PS I also free range and not enough protien will do the same thing. as I said "formulas of feed you get exactly what you need if you buy good feed"

 

[Chicken.Lytle]

I once worked at a client site where the euphemism for increasing productivity was "squeezing the chicken".