What to feed chickens to lay more eggs.

[5jays]

We have hanger feeders as well, and I keep my feed in a metal trash bin as well. I thought maybe I am missing something else for them that's why there filling up on lay mash

 

[Nova Scotia]

HI there, I realize this is an older post but, I am wondering if you can tell me what is in your "game bird feed".
We are new with our chickens since June and would love to hear what you have to say about their feed. 2 of our 18 girls started to lay last 8 days ago. One gives us an egg each day and the other has not for 2 days now. We have had fowl weather for the past 2 day. Rainy and windy. Nothing from the rest. Now our time just went back an hour so it is dark much longer - my hubby is putting a light in tomorrow with a timer. That will fix the "light situation".
Much Thanks
Darlene

 

[Red Bird]

What is "chops"?  I'm interested in duplicating your feed.  Thx.

it's corn crumbles

 

[ria17]

I have 3 chickens a year old now mixed breed and I am lucky if I get one egg a day (Freeloaders

) was wondering if i could feed them layer cos i have two muscovies in with them who are nearly a year old, not sure when they start laying, cos I haven't had ducks before, I have had chickens before and fed them the layer but don't like giving too much cos their backends blow out. not pretty, happened to some we got off someone who obviously fed them more layer than we ever did. Also we have them in the barn at the moment while hubby builds their new coop, so hopefully once they are out in that and being able to get fresh air too might help, do you think?
thanks in advance for any replies

 

[DrTacosMD]

I have 3 chickens a year old now mixed breed and I am lucky if I get one egg a day (Freeloaders  ) was wondering if i could feed them layer cos i have two muscovies in with them who are nearly a year old, not sure when they start laying, cos I haven't had ducks before, I have had chickens before and fed them the layer but don't like giving too much cos their backends blow out. not pretty, happened to some we got off someone who obviously fed them more layer than we ever did. Also we have them in the barn at the moment while hubby builds their new coop, so hopefully once they are out in that and being able to get fresh air too might help, do you think?
thanks in advance for any replies   

Is the barn dark? How much light do they get per day? (It can be artificial light as long as it's bright enough for you to read). Chicken egg production depends on how many hours of light they get. I've read that anywhere from 12-16 is fine. I think egg farms go as high as 16 hours of light per day.

I think light might be your problem since you mentioned that they're in the barn. Also, you mentioned mixed breeds but are they hybrids of productive breeds? And are they molting right now? I've been told that chicken go into molt when they don't get enough to light, and they produce less eggs when molting.

 

[TalkALittle]

I have 3 chickens a year old now mixed breed and I am lucky if I get one egg a day (Freeloaders  ) was wondering if i could feed them layer cos i have two muscovies in with them who are nearly a year old, not sure when they start laying, cos I haven't had ducks before, I have had chickens before and fed them the layer but don't like giving too much cos their backends blow out. not pretty, happened to some we got off someone who obviously fed them more layer than we ever did. Also we have them in the barn at the moment while hubby builds their new coop, so hopefully once they are out in that and being able to get fresh air too might help, do you think?
thanks in advance for any replies   

What are you feeding them now? What do you mean by "their back ends blow out"? Are you talking about prolapsed vent? Layer feed doesn't cause that. You can feed an All Flock or Flockraiser type of feed and offer oyster shell on the side if you are worried about your ducks eating layer feed.

 

[brad68der1]

Been reading on this thread, thank you all! New to chickens and trying to get educated. Was at my local feed mill, they told me a good choice is thier blend of grains, oats, corn and buckwheat. They said its approx 16% and it is ground fairly fine. Great ve some thus am and wow! My birds love it! It's $12/50# not a bad price I think and its not prepackaged high production feed.
Really hoping this stuff will "kick start" my birds egg laying.
Thanks again for this thread!

 

[brad68der1]

First egg, woohoo! LoL
M wife found it this morning. The lady's are getting there

 

[RonP]

One of the more exciting finds!!

Congratulations

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Been reading on this thread, thank you all! New to chickens and trying to get educated. Was at my local feed mill, they told me a good choice is thier blend of grains, oats, corn and buckwheat. They said its approx 16% and it is ground fairly fine. Great ve some thus am and wow! My birds love it! It's $12/50# not a bad price I think and its not prepackaged high production feed.
Really hoping this stuff will "kick start" my birds egg laying.
Thanks again for this thread!

There must be something else in the feed other than grains to get up to 16% protein. Corn is under 10%, oats are about 12% and buckwheat is about the same.

Unless they've added a vitamin and mineral supplement and some synthetic amino acids it won't be a complete feed.

ETA
Congratulations on the first egg.