My hens aren't laying!

[laurelwill4]

I have 4 laying hens that have been laying consistently since the spring. We had a short stint of 102* weather at the beginning of August, but the temperatures are now back in the 80's. The girls did not like the hot weather and I did notice a reduction in eggs during that time.
Two weeks ago one of my Light Sussex hens went broody, so I know why she isn't laying. But my other girls are still not laying as well as they were before the hot weather. On average my Plymouth Barred Rock lays 5-6 eggs per week, my EE lays 4-5 eggs per week and my two Light Sussex were laying about 4 per week. Now I'm lucky to get one egg per day.
My girls have two places for fresh water that I change daily. They are being fed a mixed layer food that I create from a recipe I found on Fresh Eggs Daily called The Breakfast of Champion Layers. It consists of Layer Crumble, oats, corn, Omega Ultra Egg, garlic, brewer's yeast, probiotic powder and food-grade diatomaceous earth. They have free feed of this and they free range all day. I also give them lots of fruit and veggie treats. I worm them with a natural wormer every three months. Everyone looks and acts happy and healthy: poops are perfect, feathers are shiny, appetites are good!
Is this just the normal cycle? Does anyone have any ideas for my ladies or does anything sound amiss? Am I just a worrying chicken mother!?
Thanks for all of the help!

 

[LovinChicknFarmn]

It's more than likely a cyclical thing. Our hens are doing the same thing and one looks like she's starting to molt because we've been picking up a lot of her feathers in the coop/run. They usually start molting in the fall at some point and apparently ours are starting early this year. As long as they're eating, drinking, and acting in all other ways normal, you're probably fine.

 

[cdavis76]

what kind of wormer do you use and how do you administer it to them?

 

[laurelwill4]

I worm my chickens with a natural wormer I make at home. It contains one whole garlic bulb, oatmeal, carrot, pumpkin seeds, molasses, yogurt and pumpkin pulp. I ensure that they are on clean ground and their droppings are picked up and I perform worm checks of the feces to ensure they are parasite free. The coop is cleaned weekly. They do not have worms.

 

[cdavis76]

how much of each ingredent of those listed to mix together?

 

[laurelwill4]

It turns out my girls did not like the hot weather we had. They have all since started laying again. But my feed mixture is:
50lbs Layer crumble
1 large can of old fashioned oats
4c. cracked corn or scratch grains
1/4 bag of Omega Ultra Egg
1 1/2 c Thomas Lambs Brewers Yeast and Garlic Powder
1 1/2 c food grade Diatomaceous Earth
1 1/2 c Probiotic Powder

 

[laurelwill4]

Sorry! I should have read which post you were referring to before responding. My recipe for worming my hens is:
One entire bulb of garlic
2 c raw oatmeal
1 shredded carrot
8 Tb. ground raw pumpkin seeds
1 Tb. Molasses
1 can organic pumpkin or the pulp of two pumpkins
Blend in the food processor and add enough plain yogurt to make a soupy consistency. I feed it to my girls in a hollowed out pumpkin or squash. They love it!

 

[curiositykt]

I thought garlic was poisonous to chickens?

 

[laurelwill4]

Not at all. Garlic is very good for chickens. All animals (including the human variety!) actually. Parasite type bugs do not like it and it is a good boost for the immune system.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Not at all. Garlic is very good for chickens. All animals (including the human variety!) actually. Parasite type bugs do not like it and it is a good boost for the immune system.

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