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Reduced Egg Production

Discussion in 'Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying' started by banditti, Feb 17, 2013.

Most Liked Posts
  1. Feb 17, 2013 #1
    banditti

    banditti Hatching

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    Jun 24, 2010
    We have (6) Australorps, (2) Wyandottes and (7) Leghorn. They have a nice coop and quite of bit of space to roam. We bought them from someone getting out of chickens (2 different sources) and for a month or so we got good production. (8-12 a day) Then about 3 months ago I think they molted and the weather turned (We are in the Phoenix Metro area) The egg production dropped to 2 every other day. I read the forums and ran power to the coop and put a timer on a 40 watt bulb. They now have 15 hours of light a day. That was 5 weeks ago, still no up in food production. They have water 24/7 and get 4 cups of food in the morning and 3 in the evening.

    What am I missing?

    Thank you in advance,
     

  4. Feb 17, 2013 #2
    etammy

    etammy Chirping

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    Dec 10, 2012
    I have found that with age the molt can be hard on them and last for months. Mine just started laying some after 4 months of little to no eggs, they are almost 4 years old. They also don't lay as much in the winter
     
  6. Feb 17, 2013 #3
    gibsterl

    gibsterl Chirping

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    Sep 3, 2012
    New Hampshire
    When mine went through their moult this fall there were no eggs for 70 days and then it took another 3 weeks before they were laying as usual.
     
  8. Feb 17, 2013 #4
    ladytoysdream

    ladytoysdream Chirping

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    Mar 25, 2010
    New York
    Can you get some extra protein into them ?

    I try to feed some cat food a couple of times a week, soaked in water first. Today I fed them some deer hamburg I cooked and mixed in some dry oatmeal.

    I also got a bale of really nice hay that looks like grass clippings and put some of that in a hay rack to give them something else to munch on.
     
    Last edited: Feb 17, 2013
  10. Feb 18, 2013 #5
    banditti

    banditti Hatching

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    Jun 24, 2010
    Thank you all for your response. I actually was mistaken. The molting happened with our last chickens that got wiped out by a coyote.

    Since these are replacements, and were already producing, I don't know when they molted last. Everything else is accurate.

    Thanks,
     

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