New chicken owner here!! I have a few questions if someone could help!

[ms_magz]

I have 4 Rhode Island Reds and one Golden Buff. My husband and I built a coop and a 15x30 pen for them to wonder around in. They seem to be perfectly content with their new home. We are building a Tractor for them this week-end to give them more area to roam in and fresh grass to explore. I have followed all of the "rules" of owning chickens.. i think!! I am only getting one egg a day and have 5 hens. Im wondering if Im doing something wrong? They have a water container and a feeder that is checked at least twice a day. Is it just to hot? I don't know what to do to get more eggs!! Suggetions would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[LarryPQ]

How old are they? What are you feeding them? Have them been wormed lately?


It may just be too hot. I have more chickens than I can count, and have been getting ~3 eggs a day.

 

[ms_magz]

honestly ... Im not sure how old they are.. we bought them from a local flea market that sells them every week-end. She said they were good to go and were up to date on everything. We were told that they were great layers and we would have a great mound of eggs from them.... as i said .. one egg a day! We bought a bag of chicken feed from the co-op. they really like fresh cut grass and crickets! We live in TN and the humidity is unbarable.. that is why i was wondering if maybe the weather had something to do with it.

 

[wbruder17]

I would say the weather definitely has something to do with it. Saying that, we had 6 laying hens and there were still not enough eggs for my partner and I. Of course, we eat A LOT of eggs. Now that the other 15 have started to lay, we will be overrun, but I say, give them some time. You will be getting 5 eggs a day soon. The weather and time of year has SO much to do with whhat they lay.

 

[oldcluck]

If you just got them there is some stress involved in the move that will mess up their production for a few days. if your are in the central us it has been very hot and that affects them too. Give them a week or so ands see if they don't pick up on their laying. Of course many folks get rid of their older hens in the summer and fall and less scrupulous folks might not mention the hens are older ones.

 

[annep]

It took our hens about two weeks to settle in before they started laying..This was a previous round we'd had..Give them time, they will figure it out. and....