Improving feed quality and egg production

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I don't know if this question belongs in "Feeding and Watering your Flock" or under "Chicken Behavior and Egg laying" but here it goes. I currently have 7 heritage breed hens. Five are almost two years old. The other two turned one this past winter. While production dipped considerably during the winter months, it hasn't recovered now that the days are longer again. It would be safe to say that only the two younger chickens are prodcing eggs at all. I regularly get one or two eggs a day from the two of them. The rest of the 5...maybe a total of two a week from the five of them, plus a weekly soft-shelled egg that I find under the roosts.

I sometimes find my single White Rock sitting in the nest box at typical laying time, but when I check later, she hasn't left me anything.

I've checked for internal and external parasites and have't found any. I don't believe that stress is a factor, but I had changed feed during the winter, purchasing a cheaper feed from a feed store closer to my home. So, about a month ago I started driving way across town to purchase a higher quality, higher protien, organic layer feed. So far I haven't seen any change in egg production.

Does anyone know how long it takes for improved feed to make a difference? Is it time to just assume that these ladies have hit hen-a-pause (oh, I just made that up) and it is time to purchase more chicks if I want to continue getting fresh eggs?

 

[Mother Hen 101]

Could your hens be molting? Right now my chickens are on strike. I'm getting maybe 4 eggs a week from 6 hens. Several of them just finished being broody, and some are molting so I know that is why they aren't laying.

Do they free range, do you keep crushed egg shells or oyster shell out for them?

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

Thanks for the quick reply. One of my two Welsummers looked like she was moulting a few weeks back, which was odd since she had moulted in the fall. Meither Welsummer has layed an egg in at least two weeks. One of the Easter Eggers also looks a bit less than her usual golden lovelyness, but the two EEs are the only ones producing regularly. My two Barred Rocks moulted pretty thoroughly in the fall and my one White Rock has never moulted, or if she did, it wasn't enough of a moult to notice.

My hens get out to free range about an hour a day, most days of the week. I do have oyster shell in a little bowl hanging from the fence in their run and refill it every time it gets about 1/2 empty. I also feed back crushed egg shells in their daily mash. Their health and vigor seem very good, although I did notice that the comb of one of the BRs was sort of pale a few weeks back.

Don't know if any of this helps diagnose the problem. I have 6 little 1 1/2 week old chicks brooding in the garage, all herritage laying breeds. I had planned on keeping three or 4 of my adult hens (including the 2 EEs) and offering 3 or 4 to a friend, along with a few of the babies. Now I'm not sure the friend would really get much out of the mature hens so I may want to keep all of the babies. I can't fit more than 9 or 10 mature hens in my coop (honestly 8 is about ideal) so I have some decisions to make...

 

[chickydee64]

Thanks for the quick reply. One of my two Welsummers looked like she was moulting a few weeks back, which was odd since she had moulted in the fall. Meither Welsummer has layed an egg in at least two weeks. One of the Easter Eggers also looks a bit less than her usual golden lovelyness, but the two EEs are the only ones producing regularly. My two Barred Rocks moulted pretty thoroughly in the fall and my one White Rock has never moulted, or if she did, it wasn't enough of a moult to notice.

My hens get out to free range about an hour a day, most days of the week. I do have oyster shell in a little bowl hanging from the fence in their run and refill it every time it gets about 1/2 empty. I also feed back crushed egg shells in their daily mash. Their health and vigor seem very good, although I did notice that the comb of one of the BRs was sort of pale a few weeks back.

Don't know if any of this helps diagnose the problem. I have 6 little 1 1/2 week old chicks brooding in the garage, all herritage laying breeds. I had planned on keeping three or 4 of my adult hens (including the 2 EEs) and offering 3 or 4 to a friend, along with a few of the babies. Now I'm not sure the friend would really get much out of the mature hens so I may want to keep all of the babies. I can't fit more than 9 or 10 mature hens in my coop (honestly 8 is about ideal) so I have some decisions to make...

Are you sure they are not laying somewhere outside.......................
At their ages, you should be getting plenty eggs......................They can be pretty sneaky.
I was not getting eggs for awhile and stopped letting them out for free range until later in the afternoon.
Now I have more eggs than I want...................

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

They don't usually get to free range until after 3:00, often it is closer to 4:00 or even 5:00, and then only for about an hour because of all the predators in the area. I've wondered if I might have an egg eater in the bunch, but while occasionally I've had a broken egg, they've been few and far between. I am baffled.