Layer pellets & scratch?? Less eggs or more?

[rosemarythyme]

The crumble should be a minimum 16% calcium for laying hens. Corn is good for winter as it heats up the chickens.

Minimum 16% protein - typical layer feed is 4-6% calcium.

Also the corn heats up thing is debatable... some people buy into it, some don't.

 

[black_cat]

I purchased 3 laying hens last month. They laid eggs the next day and have been laying regularly since. One egg was soft shelled and broke. A couple were slightly misshapen but perfectly fine to eat. But all the rest have been great! Good luck with yours.

It's been a few days since I've gotten mine and I've gotten one egg from a red sexlink, but otherwise none. They have plenty of grit and shell available. I realised today that the feeder and waterer kept getting clogged with shavings....maybe they weren't getting enough food/water? Today when I refilled I raised the feeder and waterer up on some bricks so hopefully we'll start getting eggs soon. We have a nesting box full of shavings and 3 decoy eggs, but we haven't gotten any more since the first one.

 

[LizStreithorst]

My pullets are all true free range birds. They scratch and look for bugs and worms, They eat some grass and nibble some of my flowers, but they also get free choice laying pellets in the lovely chicken house I busted my butt to make for them. But I also a give them almost a pint of scratch, with a couple handfuls of of black oil sunflower and maybe 30 of my homegrown adult meal worms. One of my hens nags me for it whenever I sit out in the yard ..

I have 18 Bielefelder pullets,, one Deleware in her second year, 2 Light Brahmas in third , and one Lavener Orpington pullet. Everyone would say that this diet is too fatty but my hens all lay an egg a day and the pullets are growing big fast.

 

[rosemarythyme]

It's been a few days since I've gotten mine and I've gotten one egg from a red sexlink, but otherwise none. We have a nesting box full of shavings and 3 decoy eggs, but we haven't gotten any more since the first one.

You won't get eggs for 1-2 weeks after chickens have been moved, as stress stops the laying cycle. Once they're more comfortable in their new environment they'll get back to laying.

 

[Chickstarrs]

You won't get eggs for 1-2 weeks after chickens have been moved, as stress stops the laying cycle. Once they're more comfortable in their new environment they'll get back to laying.

I guess I was lucky with mine. Or they were not overly stressed by the move. It was not a long trip, just 20 minutes in the back of my car (in boxes of course) . They came together and were the first in my coop.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I guess I was lucky with mine. Or they were not overly stressed by the move. It was not a long trip, just 20 minutes in the back of my car (in boxes of course) . They came together and were the first in my coop.

black_cat's birds have been pretty stressed and aren't in the greatest of condition (rental birds), so in her case it's pretty safe to assume that eggs are going to be a bit delayed.

 

[black_cat]

You won't get eggs for 1-2 weeks after chickens have been moved, as stress stops the laying cycle. Once they're more comfortable in their new environment they'll get back to laying.

Ok! I'm worried about space with them....I'm hoping they'll lay even despite the space issues. They have far less space than I want them to have, and far less than they should have.

 

[black_cat]

black_cat's birds have been pretty stressed and aren't in the greatest of condition (rental birds), so in her case it's pretty safe to assume that eggs are going to be a bit delayed.

Yeah....they are already looking much healthier! I am hoping that I will be able to get some more space for them, then buy them to keep at the end of the rental period.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Ok! I'm worried about space with them....I'm hoping they'll lay even despite the space issues. They have far less space than I want them to have, and far less than they should have.

If you can get a kennel set up as some were suggesting, I think that'll do fine for space. Honestly they've probably had it much worse before they were brought over to your house.

 

[Chickstarrs]

black_cat's birds have been pretty stressed and aren't in the greatest of condition (rental birds), so in her case it's pretty safe to assume that eggs are going to be a bit delayed.

Yes, I do remember reading that thread. Hopefully things will improve quickly.