Picky chickens refuse to lay

[MuddinMomma]

I need some advice. My chickens are 1-3yrs old. We moved last November and they have been free ranging until a owl took 1. Now they are on fort Knox.They are so mad and wont lay. I have everything they need and then some! Oyster, grit, ex.
They refuse to eat thelayer perena pellets only eat the scratch out of it. I started fermenting their feed only over night right now.
They hate it wont eat it at all! I dont get it. Everyone else is eating it! All the babies and turkeys.
I dont know what to do! They are driving me crazy lol.
If I let them out right now they will never come back I'm sure, and they will lay eggs all over the property which isn't a option either.
I plan to let them out a few hours a day once they get the hint.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

From your post, I gather that you are mixing scratch grains with layer feed. Never mix anything with their feed, whether that be scratch, grit or oyster shell.
Grit and OS should be in separate containers. Scratch (a small amount) should be tossed on the ground so chickens can 'scratch' for it to satisfy their innate desire to scratch for their food.
Chickens don't choose whether or not to ovulate. It happens if they are healthy, not broody or molting. If they ovulate, they lay eggs. Stress and poor nutrition (among other things) prevent ovulation.
Eliminate everything but their chicken feed from their diet. You could even introduce a higher protein feed which will help stimulate ovulation.

 

[MuddinMomma]

From your post, I gather that you are mixing scratch grains with layer feed. Never mix anything with their feed, whether that be scratch, grit or oyster shell.
Grit and OS should be in separate containers. Scratch (a small amount) should be tossed on the ground so chickens can 'scratch' for it to satisfy their innate desire to scratch for their food.
Chickens don't choose whether or not to ovulate. It happens if they are healthy, not broody or molting. If they ovulate, they lay eggs. Stress and poor nutrition (among other things) prevent ovulation.
Eliminate everything but their chicken feed from their diet. You could even introduce a higher protein feed which will help stimulate ovulation.

Oh I apparently didn't know that. Shoot. Of course I mixed it all together. I figured I was being nice dang it!
Thank you! I will just feed the mix to the turkeys they eat it all with out a issue like my chickens lol

 

[Lazy Farmer]

From your post, I gather that you are mixing scratch grains with layer feed. Never mix anything with their feed, whether that be scratch, grit or oyster shell.
Grit and OS should be in separate containers. Scratch (a small amount) should be tossed on the ground so chickens can 'scratch' for it to satisfy their innate desire to scratch for their food.
Chickens don't choose whether or not to ovulate. It happens if they are healthy, not broody or molting. If they ovulate, they lay eggs. Stress and poor nutrition (among other things) prevent ovulation.
Eliminate everything but their chicken feed from their diet. You could even introduce a higher protein feed which will help stimulate ovulation.

I need some advice. My chickens are 1-3yrs old. We moved last November and they have been free ranging until a owl took 1. Now they are on fort Knox.They are so mad and wont lay. I have everything they need and then some! Oyster, grit, ex.
They refuse to eat thelayer perena pellets only eat the scratch out of it. I started fermenting their feed only over night right now.
They hate it wont eat it at all! I dont get it. Everyone else is eating it! All the babies and turkeys.
I dont know what to do! They are driving me crazy lol.
If I let them out right now they will never come back I'm sure, and they will lay eggs all over the property which isn't a option either.
I plan to let them out a few hours a day once they get the hint.

 

[speedy2020]

I need some advice. My chickens are 1-3yrs old. We moved last November and they have been free ranging until a owl took 1. Now they are on fort Knox.They are so mad and wont lay. I have everything they need and then some! Oyster, grit, ex.
They refuse to eat thelayer perena pellets only eat the scratch out of it. I started fermenting their feed only over night right now.
They hate it wont eat it at all! I dont get it. Everyone else is eating it! All the babies and turkeys.
I dont know what to do! They are driving me crazy lol.
If I let them out right now they will never come back I'm sure, and they will lay eggs all over the property which isn't a option either.
I plan to let them out a few hours a day once they get the hint.

Don't feed them several hours after let them out the coop and only feed layer feed. You will give them limit scratches and treat 7-10 days later. It will take few days and they eventually eat what's available.

 

[MuddinMomma]

Don't feed them several hours after let them out the coop and only feed layer feed. You will give them limit scratches and treat 7-10 days later. It will take few days and they eventually eat what's available.

Thank you! They never had a issue until we moved but they were 100% free