I am using the light method and getting less eggs?Add radio=more eggs!

[ole-crone]

Part of our coop is dark during the day too. If the chickens are going outside, they are getting light there. I'd have the white light on from @5-whenever sunrise is, and leave the red light off for now. Maybe they have too much light and are over stimulated.

Wouldn't hurt to experiment a bit. You're already not getting alot of eggs.

 

[digitS']

Quote:
You should have a clear understanding of what that "powdery mix from the feed store" amounts to. Is it higher or lower in protein than the Layena? The ground corn is lower in protein so that corn is diluting the Layena for protein - an important, egg-making nutrient.

That other "mix" may or may not help with egg production - you need to know.

Steve

 

[cmom]

I keep my light source the same and I get days of intense laying then I get day where I will get half the amount of eggs. It maybe their bodies are having a little rest so they lay good for awhile and then take some time off sort of and maybe lay every other or 2 days.

 

[dancingbear]

The ones that hatched this year may not have started laying yet. You didn't say how old they actually are, or what breed(s) they are. Early maturing breeds may start laying at 20-25 weeks old. Slower maturing breeds may take anywhere from 5 months to nearly a year.

I don't understand why, in your original post, you said they were all laying and had been for two years. Obviously that's not correct.

You could cut out the extra corn for now, they don't need it, you're just reducing the total protein. Find out how much protein they're getting.

 

[Sylvie]

There is a poster who started a thread that focuses on using a red light and they had great success, so I don't think your red light would have an adverse effect.

 

[chicken_angler]

Ok so many ?'s. lol


Well I will call the feed store in a minute to see how high in protein all the feed is. In my first post I said they are all either laying or have been for 2 years. The 2 year layers are from a guy that was getting rid of them.

My youngest ones are the 6 NHR's. They were gotten as day-olds on April 23 which makes them over 32 weeks old. The shaver red is my most punctual (sp?) layer. I get a large egg from her everyday. She is older than the NHR's. The EE is the same age as the shaver red. The 5 that I got for free-----(3 golden buffs, 1 RIR, 1 barred rock) are at least two years old. The guineas age is unknown.


I got 7 eggs so far today. I am glad to see that it is increasing from 4 to 7 eggs lol

 

[chicken_angler]

Ok I called the feed store and asked them about the protein----

Layena=16%

Jand B layer mix=14%

Cracked corn=7% or 8%

I am going to go fill up the feeders with new feed. this time I am barely going to put in any corn and see what that does.

 

[dancingbear]

It wouldn't hurt a thing to increase protein to 18%, next time you buy feed.

I'm curious about the molting with the older hens. Did they already molt this year and regrow feathers? If they did, sometimes they can still be growing small "undercoat" feathers, and you just wouldn't see it. They may not lay again for a little longer, if that's the case. They'd still need more protein.

 

[MasterSparky]

I have 8 barred rocks and am running a clear 40watt bulb for 14 hours. Usually get 6 to 7 eggs a day... Sometimes I get 8 per day. Have you tried a lower wattage bulb? Remember reading somewhere that the light needed is just enough to read with... Good Luck!

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Maybe should try turning light on at 4:30 till 6:00. Giving them the illusion of a longer day. It worked for me.