How do I get my new chickens to lay eggs?

[davinad]

I bought 4 one year old Rhode Island Reds about a month ago. I know the ownerSo, s and since I have been talking about it for awhile I decided fall was a good time for me to get me feet wet, so to speak. I built a nice coop based on research info, 4' x 4' x 4'. Built a an open faced nesting box and a roost, picked up laying mash, fresh veggies etc. Day one I have an egg, wahoooo!. Day 3, 6 and 9 I have an egg. Wahoooo! Not so much since then and its been about 2-12 weeks. In all fairness to the chickens, I did make changes over the first 2 weeks or so. I enlarged the coop by double, added a ramp, which of course they don't use. I feed them yogurst everyday, bananas, sunflower seeds, niger seed, rolled corn, laying mash, a variety of fresh veggies. They are so relaxed that I can pet them. Two of them have scale mite so I have been treating them with Neem Oil and it is working wonders. I went out to the coop the other day and one of them was lounging like a diva, one leg stretched out, just lolling in the coop of luxury. I had lights on for awhile, someone suggested a low watt bulb left on 24/7; tried that, no change, someone else suggested no lights at all and just roll with natural light, that's what I'm doing now. So, do they have it too good? Any ideas? Please help, the egg-starved chicken lover, Davina

 

[wendy]

Welcome to the site

They may move your thread under another topic, so don't be alarmed

They sound like they have it pretty good But if you decide to do a light again. I would not use it 24/7. They only need like 14 hours of daylight. And you don't want the light on when they are trying to go roost for the night.
They need alot of protein to lay. I only use what they call down here laying pellets. They get 2 buckets in the morning and one in the evening. Add crushed eggshells and left overs, special treats, bananas, cooked cooled oatmeal, biscuits, etc.

You can try a "fake" egg in the nesting box too. They maybe just a little confused with the light that was on 24/7.

Wendy

 

[freshegg]

well it could be the weather I have 8 rir and only getting 1 egg a day now that its fall. Im adding light today and secured the drafts 2 days ago. also when I bought my 1 yo rir's they didnt lay much for a couple months after there move.