switched to organic feed, less eggs

[catterbug]

I switched to organic feed about 2-3 weeks ago. I have 8 chickens and I am getting about 1-4 eggs a day. Of course when the weather got colder and there was less light we started getting less eggs but the last week or so we are getting even less. I also notice that I am not filling the feed up as much as I was prior to the organic feed. Could this also be just the weather etc?

 

[Judy]

Try going back to your old feed and see what happens.

 

[UrbanGrower]

Does the mix tell you what's in it? What is the protein content? Even in growing produce, organic doesn't always mean better yield, or better for you for that matter.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, the feed should have a list of percentages, i.e. protein, calcium, lysine, etc.. Compare that to your old feed. Is it an organic layer ration?
Could also be coincidence. I was bragging that I was getting 8-10 eggs a day from 10 birds, today only 5.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I was getting 8-10 eggs a day until last week, now I'm getting one or two... I thought they would slow down when the weather got cooler and the days short... not in the MIDDLE of winter... lol... Probably just coincidence...

 

[centrarchid]

I suspect the organic feed is formulated to meet nutritional needs of your layers (i.e. total protein, amino acids, fatty acids, energy etc.). My bet is that the feed contains little or no animal protein. If latter correct the feed may not be as palatable as your old feed. Fishmeal is tasty relative to a lot of grain meals. If intake reduction delayed as you indicate, then that may be an indication a nutrient or two, vitamin(s) or fatty acids maybe short. Eitherway, to prevent need for throughing feed out, mix with your standard diet. Should result in increased feed intake.