Newbie

[GAB65]

Hi, I have seven chickens (1 Easter Egger,and 6 Black Australian chickens Can’t remember their breed). I have had them for over a year and when they started laying I was getting 4 to 6 a day. Now I am getting only one a day, if I’m lucky. I give them scratch and feed, but think I may be giving them too much scratch. Is that something they should get only weekly or twice a week?

 

[Nomadicus]

Hello and Welcome to BYC. Glad to have you here with us in this fun and poultry loving community. It is normal for them to slack off during short days of sunlight and when they molt. Easy on the scratch. If you can I reccomend using a higher protein feed.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. It is not unusual for second year hens to take a break when the daylight period shortens. A handful of scratch daily is more than enough.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
They need no scratch so drop it to just an occasional treat. As mentioned, hens take a winter break after molting. In February, egg production starts to pick up again. Enjoy your girls!

 

[TwoCrows]

Hello and welcome to BYC!

You're received some great advice above so I will just welcome you to our flock. Enjoy your birds!

 

[OrpingtonManiac]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[CCsGarden]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Jener8or]

It's nice to have you here! Your black Australian breed of chickens are probably Australorps. I really love my Australorps.

I try not to give my flock too much scratch, but they get it as a treat. It's important they get all the nutrients from a complete feed, so you don't want to take away from that.

I prefer an All-Flock or Flock Raiser type of feed with oyster shell on the side, especially in the winter months or if you have a mixed flock of roosters, non-layers and layers that all don't need the extra calcium.

Thanks for joining and welcome to BackYard Chickens!

 

[muddy75]

 

[N F C]

Hi, it's nice to have you here with us!