What to feed chickens to lay more eggs.

[Angel16]

Do chickens really like meat???

 

[ChickenGrit]

Mine love meat.

 

[Angel16]

any kind of meat?

 

[Angel16]

is it also true that they will eat mice if they find one?

 

[redsoxs]

is it also true that they will eat mice if they find one?

Oh yes! To a chicken it is just more protein!

 

[Angel16]

Okay that makes sense! so they can take care of any rodent problem!!?( not that i want one at all!!)

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Chops? like pork chops?

Chops are cracked corn.

 

[unohen]

Yes, light helps. Especially when daylight is less than 12 hours!

 

[nolap]

I just read all the answers to this wonderful thread and found the feed suggestions very informative and interesting.

I have 20 Black Australorps and have been raising them for 12 years. Also have 4 roos. I live in Northern California, so our weather is quite different than that of the cold climates. However, our winter temps range from 32-45 at night.

I have been using a winter light for most of my chicken experience here. It's on a timer to come on at dusk and off at 7-8pm and on at 5am and off at 7am depending on the length of our days - I adjust it monthly so that it's on for about 12-14 hours/day. It's off come Spring until next winter.

I've always fed 16% laying pellets or crumbles. I've always found they lay more when I give them our left over white bread. Weird. They go absolutely crazy over it. They do get salad scraps and vegetable peelings. But, they really love their white bread.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

would a sky light work? i was thinking of puting one in my chicken coop but wondered if it was a good idea or not?

A skylight will bring in natural light, but it won't extend the hens' production any.

If you want to keep them naturally, then their production will go up and down with the seasons as the day length changes. If you want good production year round then the day length needs to be extended with artificial lighting. Anytime they see the day lengths starting to decrease they will decrease production.