rlonyo: I have a mixed flock of about forty hens and two roos in a free-range net covered run about one half acre.

[raywood lagneau]

My hens began molting about ten weeks ago and my egg collection decreased from thirty eggs a day gradually to two or three eggs a day over about six or seven weeks. We have not collected an egg in over three weeks. I feed 2 1/2 oz of 16% layer pellets and 1 1/2 oz of scratch/whole corn mix daily. Is there any natural method to get the hens started laying again?

 

[nuthatched]

Is that the feed per chicken? If it's winter where you are, they a probably in their winter break. You might want to switch to an all flock feed and have oyster shell on the side with your roos.

 

[raywood lagneau]

Is that the feed per chicken? If it's winter where you are, they a probably in their winter break. You might want to switch to an all flock feed and have oyster shell on the side with your roos.

Yes, per bird. Why all flock?

 

[nuthatched]

Yes, per bird. Why all flock?

Laying feed isn't great for non laying birds like young pullets and roosters. Plus it doesn't have enough protein for my taste.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Chiming in - "Layer" feed is generally about 16% protein here in the US, and just barely meets the accepted minimum amino acid needs to maintain a production layer at a rate where losses due to poor nutrition do not exceed the cost to offer more nutritious food. Its also not intended to support hens in the long term - first adult molt is when commercial layers go to become pet food, chicken byproduct meal, feather meal, etc... The amino acid content is **NOT** high enough to meet the recommends for hatchlings and adolescent birds as they develop their skeletal and musculature, ligaments, etc - meaning you end up with (generally) apparentl;y healthy birds that simply don't live up to potential. Additionally, the (roughly) 4% average calcium in the typical layer feed contains bulds up in the bodies of roosters, low production hens, and pre-production adolescents.

Externally, that becomes visible with higher incidence of gout and urinary problems. Internally, it causes organ lesions in the kidney, liver, and digestive tract, contributing to reduced feed efficiency and higher rates of death.

Finally, the low protein - being a maintenance dose - does not aid your chickens in speeding thru molt.

You are aggravating the situation by further reducing the nutritional value of the food with the addition of yet less valuable corn and whatever else bulks up your scratch. Like offering sugar water to a prisoner already on a diet of barely enriched white bread.

As to why they aren't laying?? Not only is most of their energy put towards molting, and some of their energy turned to maintaining body heat, but the decline in daily light levels triggers many birds to reduce egg production so they can focus on the molt. Now that we are past the longest night of the year, the daily light levels will begin to correct themselves - but the diet prolonging their molt will require your intervention.

For the typical backyard owner, with the typical backyard flock, following typical backyard management practices, I recommend an all flock/flock raiser type feed, with free choice grit and oyster shell, for all your birds, all their lives. While you have a somewhat larger flock than the typical (though still half the size of my own), the only thing that changes is the cost of maintaining them in all flock/flock raiser. I recommend you explore the local feed stores (as opposed to Farm King/Rural King/Tractor Supply/etc) for locally milled bulk feed - you want something in the 18-20% protein range, around 3.5% fiber +/-, and about 3.5% fat +/-. If your experiences are typical, you should be able to obtain fresh, locally milled, feed meeting those numbers for between $2 and $4 per 50# bag cheaper than the in town box stores.

My opinion only, feel free to disregard.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Further thought. I know you mentioned your birds are in about 1/2 acre. Perhaps you think they are supplimenting their feed there, able to make up the deficiencies in the commercial feed you are offering. That's a strong "maybe", seasonally.

My own birds free range a 1 acre pasture (and more, when they defeat the fence - I have a gate post to replace) plus about 3.5 acres of highland hardwood forest in one of the most forgiving climates here in the US, zone 8a. Its "my acres of weeds". [Incomplete - I keep meaning to come back to this]. Anyhow, seasonally dependent, the free ranging saves be between 15 and 35% per month on feed. I've made great effort to ensure a diverse mix is available through every season. You've not said where you are, or what you have planted in your half acre, but if its a monoculture, its not nearly the benefit you may believe it to be, and its doubtful that 40 birds contained in a half acre are finding much bonus protein in the form of passing insects, if they've been on that ground for long - even ignoring seasonal affects.

Full disclosure, i dont feed my own flock as i reccomend above, but i don't have the typical backyard, typical flock, or typical management/goals. and i maintain that i'm better qualified to weigh the risks of alternative feed programs than the typical backyard owner.

This is the only "scratch" involved