ideas on upping egg production

[LynneP]

I'm discovering they can be such clowns! Lots to learn, I'm new too and getting a charge out of finding out what to do. Our feed provider is the official poultry feedmaster for the provincial co-op, and he has cautioned me several times to stay with the blends for various stages, and I've had outstanding luck- birds are glossy, friendly and putting eggs in their boxes. I chose pellets for my layer mix because they're less messy. You may get some funny poops for a couple of days after the switch.

It sounds like you're ready for laying mixture for everyone, provided you can confirm they are all laying. I know it's difficult with birds of different ages, so I hope someone in a similar situation with experience, can verify this!

Have fun!

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

we have more eggs then we know what to do with! But we also have to search for eggs every day cuz some of the girls just like to lay them in the yard, or in the wood pile, or under the car, or in the garage. So I would watch to see if your girls are laying while out and about.
We feed layer pellets as much as they want to eat, and they get most the kitchen scraps, plus love digging in the compost pile and free range all day. We only give corn (scratch) as a treat, maybe 2 handfulls a day to all of them to share (19 in the flock). We burry the scratch in grass clippings and they love digging around for it. I think scratch is just supposed to be a treat, and not main food.

 

[JUROBBINS]

so cracked corn is actually a treat, not a main food source, guess i totally remembered that wrong-so it's like feeding the kiddos twinkies constantly

,lol. ok, i'm rushing to tsc after ds gets out of school! thank you!!!!

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

Quote:
correct!
If you get them on layer pellets that they can have when ever they want you should see more eggs in no time!
corn scratch is a great treat for them, and a fun way to get them to eat out of your hand.

 

[JUROBBINS]

yeah, so far they aren't devouring the pellets.....went out this morning, the pellets are mostly there, with the cracked corn and starter picked out....maybe a little pellets gone, but by the time i make it out in the am, the leftover from night before is always gone. i guess i just let them see they have to eat the pellets?? any input? thanks!

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

If you are giving them both they are going to pick the corn. kinda like offering a kid a salad or a cupcake. I think most kids are going to chose the cup cake. lol

I would keep their feeder full of pellets and and only treat with corn. I dont think chickens are stupid...I think they will eat what is given to them if they are hungry. Just might take a little time for them to realize that the pellets are their food.

 

[CityChook]

Ditto what Gopher Boy is saying.

I offer pellets available all day, treats only from me. I treat my chickens like I treat my kids - why would they EVER eat their dinner after I fed them m&m's all day? I KNOW which I'd rather eat (whether it's good for me or not... grin!). Also, I find that if I only feed treats (corn and BOSS) from hand (or sprinkled on the ground at my feet or in a special treat bowl), I have NO problem getting them to come when I call. Makes my life so much easier. And who doesn't LOVE seeing a chicken run full speed toward you? Cracks me up. They are pretty darned food motivated - even more than my black lab who would eat ANYTHING. Come to think of it, the princess poultry pretty much eat anything too.

Have you checked your yard for eggs? I'm wondering if they are laying outside and you just haven't found their secret spot... They are stealthy little things sometimes.

 

[JUROBBINS]

thanks so much for the help everyone. i get it with the corn...i just felt bad not puttin some in there-they go cold turkey tonight,lol

also, i didn't let them out of their yard today, i'm not sure what to do to make sure they don't lay eggs out and about other than leave them in there for now-any input ?? i feel bad-i'm so needy,lol! i do appreciate the help, truly.
i will definately give treats by hand, maybe that will help bring in a couple of the newer hens that aren't so...personable..lololol-or would that be chickenable? anyhoo, i haven't found any eggs today as of yet-in their yard or in the nest boxes. is there a way to encourage then to come in and lay in the boxes? i mentioned before, i get 1 egg in mid am and 1 every other day in late afternoon...so far that's it. thanks!!

 

[GopherBoyFarms]

I still cant get mine to lay in the boxes (well not all of them)
some like the garage...we have bags of straw in there and they made nests in there and half my girls lay in there. One silly cochin girl huddles down in the corner next to car parts and lays on the floor!!! I still havent found where the polish are laying there eggs I think it might be in the wood pile! but we have no shortage of eggs (about 9-12 a day) I did hard boil a bunch of eggs I found when we moved the car out of the yard and put the hard boiled ones in the nest box with the word HARD written on them...that seemed to help get some of them laying in the boxes.

 

[JUROBBINS]

hey, that sounds like a great idea!!! thanks!
they are comical and have sooo much personality-i never would have thought! they have seen happier to see me this afternoon-lookin for a treat im sure! still no eggs, oh well...maybe later, maybe tomorrow. it did cool off quite a bit last night, so maybe that didn't help. ok, well, i think i feel a bit more relieved and definately more informed!