List of egglaying factors

[Tommy12241]

Hi I`m making this threat not just for me. But for everyone out there who needs a little help with egglaying. Could someone please reply with a list of factors that help boost egg numbers. I have 17 hens and for the last two days ive gotten none! and before that I would only get two or three eggs a day. Its very frustrating because im trying to start breeding and selling. Someone please help. Please make the list easy to read for newer chicken owners. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

-I have a fan running
-Three nest boxes (one elevated, one nice enclosed box on the ground, and an old fuel barrel on its side with straw in it which they love )
-They have a small barn to stay out of the weather
-they are fed layer crumbles.

(these are the things ive done to try and boost production.)

 

[Leghornmum]

1# put vinegar in their water (you can find out how much to put online)
2# a happy hen lays well, is their anything disturbing your hens?
3# give scratch (cracked corn) along with their pellets
4# if you can get one, buy a rooster. they will pick up if a cock is there
5# are they enclosed? if not, then they might have found a better place to lay somewhere else

 

[Tommy12241]

I`ll try the vinegar. Other than the heat there isn't anything bothering them. There was a coyote that tried to get in which spooked them but that was a long time ago. And they weren't laying any more before or after the event. I have two roosters they`re brothers and were raised with the hens since they were all young. And they're enclosed in a fairly large pen but there isn't anywhere for them to hide that I don't know about.

 

[Leghornmum]

Oh, and, sometimes wild bird feed and catfood will pick it up. hope it helps!

 

[Tommy12241]

Just put the vinegar in. Ill try the bird feed too. Thanks!

 

[Leghornmum]

my pleasure! let me know how it turns out!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

The most important things we need to know are:

How old are they?

What kinds of chickens are they (as in breed and variety)

What precisely are you feeding them (other than the layer feed)?

 

[cmom]

The most important things we need to know are:
How old are they?
What kinds of chickens are they (as in breed and variety)
What precisely are you feeding them (other than the layer feed)?

I agree. All of my coops have night lights. I don't know if it makes a differance but when others say their birds aren't laying, mine are. There are times when I may get fewer eggs but most of the time they lay well. My birds always have layer pellets feed available as well as all of my coops have auto waterers so they always have fresh water. Every evening when I collect the eggs is their treat time which is a mix of scratch, wild bird seed, rolled oats and black oil sunflower seeds. They love it. It is a ritual and they get so excited when it's treat time. My non layers get a higher protien (22%) pellet poultry feed and when they sart laying they get regular layer unless I'm getting ready for hatching and about a month before I collect the eggs for hatching I put the breeding stocks on the higher protien feed. I think I get better hatches and stronger chicks. My birds do free range in the pasture during the day.

 

[7L Farm]

I'm with AT you need to answer these questions first. But having a rooster is not gonna increase egg production but it will help if you want to hatch the eggs. Age will slow the egg production down. Will heat slow it down who really knows. Will the length of daylight affect egg production I'd say yes to that one. What your feeding them affect production I'd say yes to that one. I'd give them a good laying pellet, some greens, & fresh water. You can add some Braggs ACV to their water its a good thing. Free ranging helps birds in having a complete diet free ranging gives them more exercise & fresh air & they feel less stressed. Seems a lot of us are going thru less eggs right now. Could be the heat. Guess, they are gonna lay when they want. But a good diet & life style is essential for healthier birds & egg production in my opinion.

 

[cmom]

Heat can affect their laying too so they need shade as well as plenty of water. On really hot days I have sprinklers for my birds and they love to get wet and cooled off by the water. They also have wading pans.They like to get in the cool water and wade around in it. I guess cooling the feet helps too.