What am I doing wrong? 7 hens, few eggs.

[iachicks]

I am very new to this. Learning lots on this site so thanks to you all! Friend of a friend was giving some chickens away and I was told I was getting 4 laying hens. Turns out I got 7 laying hens and 1 roo. 3 RIR hens and the RIR roo, and 4 barred rock hens. I was told they are all great layers. I know my coop is small for 8 since I was planning on 4, but I am only getting 1 or 2 eggs a day from 7 hens. Is this a space issue? We started with the Dumore stuff from Tractor supply but heard bad stuff about it and it was spendy, just picked up some 18% layer feed from a mill and see how they do on that. Also I think my nest box situation needs work.... because I don't have any. I went from saying I would some to having them at my doorstep in 24 hours because the guy wanted them gone. I've had them about a week now, have devised a 4x4x8ft run, a 2x4ft coop and they free range on the acreage. Nest boxes are next just haven't got to it yet. They seem generally happy and are well fed and watered. Do I need to add calcium to their diet? Are they still just adjusting? Thanks for all your guys and gals help!

 

[iachicks]

PS - I am going to try to expand the coop to 4x4ft and also trying to give a couple hens away to a friend who is also interested in some BYCs.

 

[chickenmandavid]

Its possible that your hens are laying their eggs where you haven't found them (yet). But it is also quite normal for most hens take a couple weeks to get back into their normal laying routine after the stress of moving and adapting to a new home. If 7 hens are not laying 5 or 6 eggs per day after a few weeks, then something is wrong. But for now don't worry about it.

That said, nest boxes are critical. They don't have to be professional "nest boxes" per say. A cardboard box or a 5 gallon bucket (sideways) and some straw in a peaceful location a couple/three feet off the ground will suffice. But they need to know where it is and be comfortable there. My hens kept trying to lay on my work bench in the garage, so finally I just put some straw in a cardboard box (no lid) on the work bench and now they lay eggs in there all the time.

Also, try leaving a couple eggs in the nest box for a day or two before collecting (they wont go bad), or put a couple golf balls or other egg like looking objects in there (rocks, plastic eggs, etc.) The hens will think, "gee, this looks like a good place to lay eggs cause there are some eggs already there" (well, I don't know what or even if chickens think, but 2 golf balls per box work great for me.) By the way, 7 hens should be able to share 2 nest boxes without any problem.

The calcium in the layer feed doesn't have much to do with egg production as it does with shell quality. Without calcium the eggs will be thin or of poor quality. I always provide layer feed "free choice" but my hens prefer to free range and eat very little feed during the warm season. However I always give them the eggs shells after we have eaten the eggs. They are able to recycle the calcium in the shells. I just throw the shells on the ground where I give them a hand full of scratch feed (a treat) once a day and they always race to eat the shells.

 

[iachicks]

I had read about them laying in places while free ranging and have tried to keep a very close eye on them. They like to dig and dust bath under my boat and I check it frequently and haven't seen any eggs. They all seem very intent on laying in the pine shavings in the coop so I think a little more time and an added nest box or two will hopefully get them up to speed. I am definately willing to hear any more opinions and tips though!