Not Laying Regularly

[CSpellane]

Hi everyone! I’ve had backyard hens for the last 8 years and have loved the experience and protein it brings to my family. The last year has been very trying. We battled predators such as snakes (steaming eggs), bobcats, raccoons, and dogs. This led me to move my entire coop to a very sheltered barn close to the house. With the COVID crisis I decided to restock my depleted coop with laying hens which I bought from a local guy. The hens were in terrible shape. Combs white and falling over. There feathers were also terrible not sure if they were molting or just unhealthy. Well we got them hydrated and fed up and they started laying okay. I have 13 hens and was getting 5 eggs a day for a few weeks. Then they went to laying absolutely nothing and now I’m getting about an egg everyday. Since they can’t free range due to predators I make sure they get lots of fresh greens from our garden: cucumbers, melons, and beet tops. We’ve been feeding high protein layer pellet twice a day. I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions you have. Thanks!

 

[hysop]

How much feed are you feeding exactly?

Many recommend to free feed chickens. I personally don’t. I do feed 3/4 cup of 16% layer feed per bird and it works fine. I’ll add more from time to time.

Sometimes too many treats can cause them to stop laying because then they rather eat the treats than the layer feed required to make eggs.

Mine recently stopped laying due to the heat but have since slowly started back up. Could it be the heat?

 

[CSpellane]

I’ve never used a cup measure. I’ll try that today. I just give a big “horse feed scoop” 2x a day. I used to only feed once in the evening but now have been feeding twice a day. I’ll cut back on the treats. It is HOT the coop is completely shaded and they get a breeze all day. This is the coolest coop I’ve ever had. No eggs yesterday.

 

[hysop]

I’ve never used a cup measure. I’ll try that today. I just give a big “horse feed scoop” 2x a day. I used to only feed once in the evening but now have been feeding twice a day. I’ll cut back on the treats. It is HOT the coop is completely shaded and they get a breeze all day. This is the coolest coop I’ve ever had. No eggs yesterday.

Let us know how it works out

If you have 13 hens then it would be 9 and 3/4 cups (or 10 cups even to make it easy ) of feed per day.

 

[CSpellane]

Ok I measured it out this morning and I was under feeding a bit. I’m also wondering if I need more feeders, or actual chicken feeders (which I haven’t used in a while). I’ve been feeding them out of big rubber tubs. I didn’t give them any treats today which made me sad because I love watching them jump for the cukes I hang up. I also have a large light in the coop because it is so shaded (to keep them cool). Is too much light exposure a bad thing?

 

[hysop]

Ok I measured it out this morning and I was under feeding a bit. I’m also wondering if I need more feeders, or actual chicken feeders (which I haven’t used in a while). I’ve been feeding them out of big rubber tubs. I didn’t give them any treats today which made me sad because I love watching them jump for the cukes I hang up. I also have a large light in the coop because it is so shaded (to keep them cool). Is too much light exposure a bad thing?

Hmm that I don’t know since I have never put up lights in my coop but I wouldn’t think so since they need daylight to stimulate egg production, so lights would be okay but hopefully someone who knows the answer can help you out.

I usually notice an increase in egg production within 3 days of making the appropriate changes. Also make sure their water is clean and fresh and cool.

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

Hi everyone! I’ve had backyard hens for the last 8 years and have loved the experience and protein it brings to my family. The last year has been very trying. We battled predators such as snakes (steaming eggs), bobcats, raccoons, and dogs. This led me to move my entire coop to a very sheltered barn close to the house. With the COVID crisis I decided to restock my depleted coop with laying hens which I bought from a local guy. The hens were in terrible shape. Combs white and falling over. There feathers were also terrible not sure if they were molting or just unhealthy. Well we got them hydrated and fed up and they started laying okay. I have 13 hens and was getting 5 eggs a day for a few weeks. Then they went to laying absolutely nothing and now I’m getting about an egg everyday. Since they can’t free range due to predators I make sure they get lots of fresh greens from our garden: cucumbers, melons, and beet tops. We’ve been feeding high protein layer pellet twice a day. I’d appreciate any advice or suggestions you have. Thanks!

I would switch their feed to a higher protein one like chick starter or something like that. They need more protein or get back into optimal condition and back into laying order. You should let them free feed just so that they get enough food for now. You can go back to scheduled feeding after they get better but for now it would be best if they could eat when they need to, especially if they were in as bad condition as you described. I would also lay off the treats for a bit.

If you have other hens that need the calcium you can leave out a dish of ground up egg shells or oyster shells, and they will eat what they need.

 

[CSpellane]

Thank you. Ok will try the extra protein and calcium. How do you handle the full feed method and manage pests? I know I have mice that can get into the coop.
Also got 2 eggs today, so that was an improvement I’ll gladly take!!

 

[hysop]

Thank you. Ok will try the extra protein and calcium. How do you handle the full feed method and manage pests? I know I have mice that can get into the coop.
Also got 2 eggs today, so that was an improvement I’ll gladly take!!

You would still remove the feeders for the night. During the day I would imagine that your chickens would shoo em away by either chasing them or catching & eating them.

Hope the solution was simply to give them more food, but it doesn’t hurt to do a little extra to speed up the egg production.