Next Flock

[rhodyray]

The flock I have is now into its second laying season and I'm not particularly happy with my birds. Bought them from Cackle Hatchery in March 2015 and consist of Black Sex Link, Red Sex Link, and Austra White hens. Their production is in descending order are listed in the previous sentence. Have six hens and daily egg production ranges from 2 to 5 eggs per day which in my book is not very good. The Austra Whites are a big letdown as they lay consistently at 50%. Although I've tried to befriend each of them I've had no success in accomplishing that feat. Generally the two other people who bought with me and have the same birds are disappointed with egg production. I'd like to know if our members think it is Cackle's issue or is it something else. My coop is big enough and the run is certainly big enough and I've stopped letting them free range because of predator problems and doing this has not changed the level of production. I'd like some thoughts about what other think. Thanks for any feedback.

 

[Pork Pie]

Dunno where you are located (helps to include under your avatar), but high temperatures can have an impact on egg production

 

[rhodyray]

Dunno where you are located (helps to include under your avatar), but high temperatures can have an impact on egg production

I live in Rhode Island.

 

[PD-Riverman]

First, what at you feeding them, protein%? Did they lay good the first year? I do not think it would be a problem with the hatcher personally. BUT I have Never ordered any Chicks from any hatcher.

I always sell my 2+ yr old hens----have been doing that for many years, even though my 2 yr old hens are laying almost a egg a day at this time. They do slow down at times for a little while but always have given me some eggs daily. My hens always have 16% feed in the feeder even if they are free ranging.

 

[The Moonshiner]

What do you consider good production?
6 hens Xs 2 eggs a day isn't so good but 6 hens Xs 5 eggs a day I'd be real happy with.

What do you feed them? Good food and plenty of it will drastically improve production over poor food and/or not enough of it.
Only reason I bring that up is I just talked to a neighbor who also didn't like his production rate. He was feeding about half what they needed and half layer pellets with half cracked corn to save money. When he switched to a better diet his production quadrupled.

 

[rhodyray]

I'm feeding my hens Blue Seal Extra Egg Layer feed. It has 16% protein. I give them plenty of feed and do not restrict the amount they eat. Plenty of water and even give them supplemental foods such as watermelon, lettuce, cantaloupe, and hosta leaves.

 

[rhodyray]

There is no limit on how much my hens eat of the Blue Seal Extra Egg Layer feed which is 16% protein. Also provide plenty of water and supplement with watermelon, lettuce, cantaloupe, and hosta leaves.

 

[Folly's place]

I feed Flock Raiser, with oyster shell on the side. Layer feed is meant to be fed exclusively, so adding other stuff in quantity will unbalance the nutrients, never a good thing. Sex-links and high producing laying hens have been developed to lay a lot of eggs for one, or at most two, production cycles, and then slow down a lot. In hot weather, your daily egg numbers aren't terrible, although not what you had their first year.
I prefer other breed types, realizing that they aren't going to produce seven eggs each/ week, but they have other qualities I value.
My birds from Cackle have been very nice, and as advertised. It's not the hatchery, it's what those birds can do given their age and conditions.
For top egg production, it's white Leghorns, their first year. Mary

 

[rhodyray]

Thanks to everyone for feedback provided. It is my determination that based on your input hybrids don't have the staying power of heritage hens and the next round will be all heritage hens. I'm looking at RI Red, RI White, and Speckled Sussex hens and possibly Plymouth Rock if such a hen exists (the barred rock isn't a plymouth rock but a an derivative).

 

[centrarchid]

Thanks to everyone for feedback provided. It is my determination that based on your input hybrids don't have the staying power of heritage hens and the next round will be all heritage hens. I'm looking at RI Red, RI White, and Speckled Sussex hens and possibly Plymouth Rock if such a hen exists (the barred rock isn't a plymouth rock but a an derivative).

Barred is a derivative of American Dominique which older than the Plymouth Rock varieties. I use American Dominiques an have acquired them from Cackle Hatchery and a couple other hatcheries at the same time. The Cackle birds performed at least as well and were more consistent with what the breed is supposed to be.

Otherwise Plymouth Rocks do exist but I am not confident in their production abilities as they have been bred a lot for looks.