Tractor supply brands of feed

[Jaybird14]

No kidding… on tractor not grinding their own feed
i have been using Dumor layer crumbles.

I have been raising quail and chickens since the early 80’s. I’m not new to this game.

 

[Nodakj]

Tractor Supply has many different brands of feed, milled in different places, ingredients sourced from different regions. If there is a problem with feed, it's isolated to specific brands and would likely be subject to a recall.
It's improbable that an issue with the feed would affect laying without also making them sick. Any other symptoms?

Like @SueT was saying, winter laying breaks are normal for older hens.
If you haven't encountered this issue before then you had something different going on back then - most likely artificial lighting increasing the hens perceived daylight hours, perhaps even unintentional lighting.
Only a very low level is needed, so lights outside the coop on other buildings etc. can do it.

By they i ment the producers of feed. Not the retailers. Idk but someone had the theory it was more related to outsourced over seas ingredients higher up in the food chain.

 

[SourRoses]

No kidding… on tractor not grinding their own feed

So why did you keep referring to only the store?

I have been raising quail and chickens since the early 80’s. I’m not new to this game.

Ok, so you have had mature layers take breaks before. You know it happens and is totally normal, you don't have to worry.

 

[Jaybird14]

So why did you keep referring to only the store?



Ok, so you have had mature layers take breaks before. You know it happens and is totally normal, you don't have to worry.

Thank you

 

[SueT]

I still think it’s the length of day. Certain breeds/hybrids do lay eggs all winter. What breed(s) do those of you have that lay all winter? @Jaybird14 do you have the same breed now as the previous that used to lay in the winter? An artificial light may not be enough, not the right wavelength needed. Did you have this type of supplemental lighting before? Is it outdoors as well? It seems it would be hard to duplicate sunlight.
I always have had a light in the coop during the day, I actually use a grow light (for plants.). But I have never had hens that laid all winter. BTW, I feed Purina Flock Raiser 20% protein.
I think it is beneficial for hens to take a break, it increases their well being and longevity.

 

[Jaybird14]

I still think it’s the length of day. Certain breeds/hybrids do lay eggs all winter. What breed(s) do those of you have that lay all winter? @Jaybird14 do you have the same breed now as the previous that used to lay in the winter? An artificial light may not be enough, not the right wavelength needed. Did you have this type of supplemental lighting before? Is it outdoors as well? It seems it would be hard to duplicate sunlight.
I always have had a light in the coop during the day, I actually use a grow light (for plants.). But I have never had hens that laid all winter. BTW, I feed Purina Flock Raiser 20% protein.
I think it is beneficial for hens to take a break, it increases their well being and longevity.

Thanks Sue,I have Colombian Wyandottes. They have layer all winter before this year.
the only light difference is a motion activated light I hung off the coup thus fall. Egg production was already dropping before I added this light.
I saw a post This morning on YouTube that mentioned Dumor and Producers pride had deficiencies causing flocks to stop laying.
I know the folks on this site are passionate about their birds so if anyone knew if this was true you folks would.

Im just going to pay through the nose at my feed mill and buy thief food and see what happens.
thank you!!

Jay

 

[SourRoses]

I still think it’s the length of day. Certain breeds/hybrids do lay eggs all winter. What breed(s) do those of you have that lay all winter?

We have Ameraucana laying, young ones and the one 2+ year old. Another of the older ones is finally getting a redder comb again. They had a long summer break because of the heat and a big molt.
Also, young Genetic Hackle are all laying, and young Leghorns which go without saying LOL. I'm in Florida, so that makes a difference, although our days are technically too short right now (about 11 hours instead of 14). Only the Legs were laying until Christmas lights went up!

On artificial lighting, studies have shown that only 1 candle (the measurement) of illumination is needed to prompt laying. That's about moonlight level. But it needs to be placed in an area that saturates the chickens evenly.
The pituitary glands in their heads receive light directly through the skin, that affects how much hormone is produced.
They also found that the way light is added matters. A constant level is not effective the way that light waning and increasing with the seasons is. Changes should be incremental, and an 8-hour period of darkness preserved.

 

[Nodakj]

I must have seen the same video.

 

[Jaybird14]

I must have seen the same video.

Popular preparedness was the guy

 

[SourRoses]

I saw a post This morning on YouTube that mentioned Dumor and Producers pride had deficiencies causing flocks to stop laying.
I know the folks on this site are passionate about their birds so if anyone knew if this was true you folks would.

Deficiencies are highly unlikely because they are legally obligated to meet what is printed on the label.
If you sent a sample for testing at a lab they could verify the nutritional content and then you would have cause to bring suit, potentially a class action from a lot of us.

Much more likely is that this Youtuber is trying to generate clicks by making people scared for the health of their birds. It's a competitive field among the video people (that's how I think of them ).