No eggs,confused

[Coykoi]

Cat food is higher in protein than dog food, but brands vary. Read the nutritional information. I'm not thrilled about the "cheap" part, I love my chickens too much to scrimp. If you stick with a good brand and don't make it the only thing they get to eat then it's ok in a pinch.

 

[PirateGirl]

Cat food is higher in protein than dog food, but brands vary. Read the nutritional information. I'm not thrilled about the "cheap" part, I love my chickens too much to scrimp. If you stick with a good brand and don't make it the only thing they get to eat then it's ok in a pinch.

I'm fairly certain, pound for pound, my cat food costs more than my chicken feed.

 

[aart]

WOW thanks so much for the information. I'm going to hit the store tomorrow and see about some additional protein for them. I had a long time farmer say feed'em cheap cat food for protein but I'm not sure that would actually be of benefit for a chicken or am I wrong.

First, learn to read the nutritional info the on chicken feed bags, should be sewn into bottom of bag.

I've heard of people feeding cat food in a pinch or feeding cat food to show birds. It just might be lacking in other things chickens need even though it has lots of protein.

Cat food can also have things not great for chickens like too much salt, tho a tad once in a while probably won't hurt. Canned mackerel is probably the best supplemental animal protein for chickens.
Protein is never 'cheap'...why higher protein chicken feed costs more.

 

[chickenfarmergal]

So I wanted to update. I went to laying pellets and feather fixer mixed as a friend said she thought the birds were molting or starting to. I've added vegetables,fruit,and even offered some cereal to them as well as some leftover crickets from hubby's fishing trip. Not much maybe 1/2 a cup or so a day and not even everyday.And still either I get no eggs or I get 2 eggs. I for the life of me am totally stumped as to why we went from 5-6 eggs to just 2 a day. Could it be they're mad that they can't free range? I'm in Columbia,SC and our weather is still really warm so maybe it's got them messed up? I've never dewormed them is it possible that is causing problems?

 

[aart]

Am I correct that you don't know the age of these birds?
I'd guess that they have stopped laying due to shortening days and may be molting or close to it.
Cut out the veggies, fruit, and cereal.

 

[imnukensc]

So I wanted to update. I went to laying pellets and feather fixer mixed as a friend said she thought the birds were molting or starting to. I've added vegetables,fruit,and even offered some cereal to them as well as some leftover crickets from hubby's fishing trip. Not much maybe 1/2 a cup or so a day and not even everyday.And still either I get no eggs or I get 2 eggs. I for the life of me am totally stumped as to why we went from 5-6 eggs to just 2 a day. Could it be they're mad that they can't free range? I'm in Columbia,SC and our weather is still really warm so maybe it's got them messed up? I've never dewormed them is it possible that is causing problems?

I, too, am near Columbia, SC. As I said earlier, one of my hens went through a molt and quit laying for about 3 weeks. My chickens free range daily. I've never wormed my chickens. I doubt seriously you have a worm problem. My guess is yours are molting. You haven't seen an increase in feathers in your coop/run? Even with only one molting and free ranging every day, it was quite easy for me to tell a chicken was molting and which one it was.

 

[bobbi-j]

So I wanted to update. I went to laying pellets and feather fixer mixed as a friend said she thought the birds were molting or starting to. I've added vegetables,fruit,and even offered some cereal to them as well as some leftover crickets from hubby's fishing trip. Not much maybe 1/2 a cup or so a day and not even everyday.And still either I get no eggs or I get 2 eggs. I for the life of me am totally stumped as to why we went from 5-6 eggs to just 2 a day. Could it be they're mad that they can't free range? I'm in Columbia,SC and our weather is still really warm so maybe it's got them messed up? I've never dewormed them is it possible that is causing problems?

It's not the temperature that causes molt and a slow down in egg production, it's the length of the days, as mentioned in an earlier post. If your chickens are over 1 1/2 years old, production will slow down or stop for the winter unless you provide supplemental lighting. Chickens need about 14 hours of light a day to keep laying. I have used a timer, setting it so it comes on early in the morning and goes off shortly after sunrise.

 

[chickenfarmergal]

So I kept reading here and I went out and "chicken watched" and was looking at poo. A couple had pale poo that was pretty runny, I also picked up a few of them and they to me felt underweight. So since I never have dewormed them I went and got Safeguard dewormer for them and one by one I picked them up and gave them dewormer. This is the 3rd day today. The morning after the 1st deworming I noticed a couple of round worms in the poo. So yesterday I cleaned everything really well even bleached the auto water and feed containers as well as cleaning the floor. I'm actually thinking of moving them into an old dog kennel we have that's basically right beside of their current pen but I'm not sure if that would cause them to be even more stressed. I added clean water and nothing but laying pellets back to their feeders. Since they're a little underweight where I could easily feel the breast bone should I be concerned.