Is my feed affecting my egg production?

[PAchickchick]

I recently started a new flock and the ages of my girls are staggered.
I have 2 girls that started laying in August (mixed breeds) and they aren't laying consistently. Is this normal for new layers?
My last flock was all RIR mixes and great layers so I'm just not used to the inconsistency. I wonder if it is the feed I am giving them? I have been buying layer feed from Tractor Supply but I'm seriously considering stepping up my feed game.
I have 4 girls who should start laying soon so I'd like to switch it up if you guys think it will help!

 

[Rose Quartz]

Part of it depends on which breeds went into the mix. But also they will be spotty layers for a while when they first start.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Has the weather been very hot lately? I doubt it is the feed, commercial feed is usually good. Generally any problem would be the protein level being too low, meaning the hen wouldn't have enough protein to generate the egg without waiting another day or two. If that was the case, you would be getting regular eggs but spaced out one or two or more days apart.

Young hens need to get into a routine to become regular layers. Keep the stress and distractions down if possible.

Good luck.

 

[nuthatched]

Feed store feed is fine, however some birds do better on something better than $17, %16 feed. I like naturwise.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

New layers take a bit to work the kinks out of their plumbing, rate of lay should steady out. That said, RIR are very good layers compared to most. Depending on the genetics of these birds, their natural rate of lay could be half a prime RIR's (though likely aren't that bad). Most of my mutts will lay around three days out of five to two days in three in their first year - a rate of about 220 to 250 eggs/year over a nine-ten month period. Some lay fewer than 180 eggs per year rate for only about 8 months of the year - I try to remove those when I can identify them.

Most of us, particularly for mixed flocks, prefer to offer an "All Flock"type formulation w/ free choice oyster shell. "Layer" feed is designed as a least cost feed for prime production breed adult hens, nothing else. Its not intended for roosters, hatchlings, adolescents, breeds that dont lay large (or larger) eggs almost daily, birds in molt, etc.