Not eating as much laying mash

[redfishrodeo]

About three weeks ago my family bought a tractor and it came with nine Rhode Island Reds. For the first two weeks I had to keep them in the tractor as I did not have fencing. They ate about 5 scoops of laying mash a day. Now that they run all day they barely eat any laying mash at all. They scratch and dig around the yard as well as getting snacked at least once a day. They have quite a preference for grapes. Is this normal and will it cause them not to lay as well? They have not started laying yet but we are patiently waiting.

RR

 

[Fred's Hens]

Feed does not make them lay, it only provides the nutrition needed in order to lay.

A chicken can get a huge portion of their nutrients, themselves, by pecking around a rich environment. Bugs, grasses, seeds, worms and so forth, are quite nutritious. Thus, this time of year, they won't bother much with the mash, just a bit as they need it or are hungry.

One caution about free ranging new hens? They likely haven't adopted the laying nests you provide as their own. The caution is this. They'll lay in secret, under the porch and out in the weeds kinds of places.

 

[redfishrodeo]

So if they are not accustomed to the nests should I leave them in the tractor till mid morning to get past the laying hours?

 

[Fred's Hens]

That is essentially what I do. I train pullets this way as well. No free ranging until 2 pm. This still gives them 7 hours of daylight to enjoy, as it is summer time here.

 

[redfishrodeo]

Thanks for the info. I will try that.