I feed my girls half layer pellets and about half scratch and they room around the yard all afternoon to get bugs and such.
So I agree with the others, not enough protein. They aren't free ranging because of the hawks so they aren't getting the protein from grubs, worms, bugs etc. The pellets are so much nicer than the mash layer feed. There is a lot less waste.
In the mornings I spread scratch in my girls run and on the hen house floor for the girls to scratch and clean up around, they also clean up any pellet feed they spilled the evening before. I keep their feeder full of layer pellets only and they eat that in the evenings. That is after I have called them back to the Run with more scratch.
I use a 50/50 because I want them to eat less wheat and more oats, due to my allergies. This works for me. I am getting 8-10 eggs from 17 layers even in 100 degree weather. I get more when the weather is cooler, my girls are point of lay to 3 year olds. Actually I am downsizing my flock as I need to reduce my work load and I am not going to sell eggs anymore.
Good luck and try for Layer Pellets or another source of protein.
You may have to figure out who is eating eggs and get rid of them. Usually one they start its hard to break them. Once you get more protein into them and if you still have a problem with egg eating. Try making a small hole in an egg, actually blow it out and fill it with mustard. They won't like it and that may stop them from eating eggs.
So I agree with the others, not enough protein. They aren't free ranging because of the hawks so they aren't getting the protein from grubs, worms, bugs etc. The pellets are so much nicer than the mash layer feed. There is a lot less waste.
In the mornings I spread scratch in my girls run and on the hen house floor for the girls to scratch and clean up around, they also clean up any pellet feed they spilled the evening before. I keep their feeder full of layer pellets only and they eat that in the evenings. That is after I have called them back to the Run with more scratch.
I use a 50/50 because I want them to eat less wheat and more oats, due to my allergies. This works for me. I am getting 8-10 eggs from 17 layers even in 100 degree weather. I get more when the weather is cooler, my girls are point of lay to 3 year olds. Actually I am downsizing my flock as I need to reduce my work load and I am not going to sell eggs anymore.
Good luck and try for Layer Pellets or another source of protein.
You may have to figure out who is eating eggs and get rid of them. Usually one they start its hard to break them. Once you get more protein into them and if you still have a problem with egg eating. Try making a small hole in an egg, actually blow it out and fill it with mustard. They won't like it and that may stop them from eating eggs.
