Low egg production

[Mimi1008]

Hi there! It seems something is going on with my laying hens but I can’t figure out what. I have 18 laying hens and I got two eggs today. I have a friend who has 12 laying hens down the street and she got 11 eggs today. I’ve noticed the count has been low but I thought it was just because of winter. Can you guys point me in the right direction on what it could be?

 

[StinkyAcres]

How old are your hens and how old are your neighbor's hens?

 

[Eggcessive]

It depends on their age, and if it is their first season of laying. Most chickens will lay all winter for the first winter, even with the shorter daylight hours. But later most hens need at least 12 hours of daylight to continue laying all winter. What breeds are they and how old? What do you feed them?

 

[Mimi1008]

It depends on their age, and if it is their first season of laying. Most chickens will lay all winter for the first winter, even with the shorter daylight hours. But later most hens need at least 12 hours of daylight to continue laying all winter. What breeds are they and how old? What do you feed them?

10 of them make two years in October, three a year & half and three are nine months. All different breeds. I feed them Natures Best organic layer pellets from Tractor Supply. Grubs from Eaton pet & pasture. I just started giving them scratch from Scratch & Peck.

 

[StinkyAcres]

10 of them make two years in October, three a year & half and three are nine months. All different breeds. I feed them Natures Best organic layer pellets from Tractor Supply. Grubs from Eaton pet & pasture. I just started giving them scratch from Scratch & Peck.

The hens that are over a year old are taking a normal winter break. Two eggs from three pullets is good.

Your neighbor may also be using supplemental lighting in her coop to encourage them to lay during the shorter days. This can be hard on the birds as they need the rest.

Be sure to limit the scratch and grubs - they are treats only.

 

[Mimi1008]

The hens that are over a year old are taking a normal winter break. Two eggs from three pullets is good.

Your neighbor may also be using supplemental lighting in her coop to encourage them to lay during the shorter days. This can be hard on the birds as they need the rest.

Be sure to limit the scratch and grubs - they are treats only.

I have 18 hens and only had two eggs. My friend isn’t using supplemental lighting. I give them grubs every morning and always have. I give scratch twice a week

 

[StinkyAcres]

I have 18 hens and only had two eggs.

And the two eggs were from your 9-month-old pullets, correct?

 

[StinkyAcres]

My friend isn’t using supplemental lighting.

How old are her chickens?

 

[Mimi1008]

And the two eggs were from your 9-month-old pullets, correct?

I’m not sure who laid the eggs. One of them for sure was from the 2 year old hens.

 

[StinkyAcres]

I’m not sure who laid the eggs. One of them for sure was from the 2 year old hens.

Either way, production will be slower in the winter because of the shorter days. And other factors can decrease egg production such as stress, overcrowding, and poor quality feed.

Right now only 4 of my new pullets are laying out of 7 and none of my hens are laying, so I am getting 0-4 eggs a day from 13 chickens.