What to feed chickens to lay more eggs.

[Mac in Wisco]

Hi Mac,
Are you certified organic ? In this state to be able to sell eggs as organic, we have to be certified.
I just call my eggs natural and when asked about organic, I mention that we practice quite a few organic methods,
but no, we are not certified. Too much red tape. We have a small set up.
Thank you for sharing what you do.

Yes we are certified organic. There is no way we could make a profit on this selling conventional eggs. I've never found the paperwork and inspection to be a big deal. When I first contacted a certifying agency they sent me a huge binder full of paperwork and forms that looked a bit overwhelming, but when it came right down to it, there were only a handful of forms that were applicable to what I was doing. Much of the initial certification was filling out questionnaires about practices and inputs. Recertification each year can be as simple as noting any changes to the original plan and having an inspector view your operation and audit some of your records, such as having appropriate receipts for the amount of organic feed your flock would have been expected to consume. Really no big deal.

 

[bunnibird55]

Do you grow your own organic chicken feed or do you buy it from someone like Nature's Grown Organics? I am studying the different aspects, marketing and cost ratio to help me decide if I could make a profit in my area or where I would need to go to make it possible.

 

[Bluebirdie1]

My husband usually goes out to the coop and tells them they are going to be dinner soon. The next day we usually have double the usual amount of eggs. i swear they know what he is saying....

 

[jkhenry]

this is my first time raising chicks its a fun xperience but sumtimes a little frustrating lol i hope my 8 chicks lay well for me but was told that they may not put out full production the first time and have lots of patience

 

[tick22]

My husband usually goes out to the coop and tells them they are going to be dinner soon. The next day we usually have double the usual amount of eggs. i swear they know what he is saying....

I find that works very well. I even have a death row pen that once they are in it, some start laying real good again. I think they have seen others go in and disappear a week later. If they start laying again, back to the big coop they go. I cull the older birds as they stop laying. Sometimes it is just what they need to get going again. laughs

Ok, the missus favorite ones get a break. She retires them to her coop where lay or not, she takes care of them and enjoys them. Those are the ones that follow her around, jump in her lap and just make themselves wanted. Funny to see her little dog get jealous and both jump on her lap....

 

[themadchicken]

Quote: i use Poly-vi-sol in the water, and sometimes i just use a generic liquid bird vitamin in the water instead. I though about the salt but i don't what kind to use. any suggestions? Oh and they free range my back yard. the snow has melted so they have been enjoying the Grass and weeds that are still green. During the summer they eat fresh apples, and apricots that fall from the trees and all the tomatoes and squash they want. I grow lots of pumpkins in the fall and they last until spring as long as they stay frozen. The chickens are working on the last 2 that's been under a pile of snow.

 

[catsbully]

amount of light and feed always matter the most...other than the age of the hen! In the winter time up the light with a light bulb in the coop! Always give them their layer mash and scratch I supplement heavily with oyster shell and scraps from the kitchen!

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Do you grow your own organic chicken feed or do you buy it from someone like Nature's Grown Organics? I am studying the different aspects, marketing and cost ratio to help me decide if I could make a profit in my area or where I would need to go to make it possible.

I don't grow any. We are in an area where there has been an organic boom and organic feed is readily available. We get it delivered from a mill about 20 miles away that does nothing but organic feed and specializes in poultry feed. Sometimes I buy crops from the neighbors and "bank" it on account at the mill for use in our feeds. Our profit rises and falls with grain prices and would be more stable if we could grow all of own feed with a fairly consistent cost of inputs, but we do well by keeping our overhead low (we don't have a lot of land, equipment, equipment sheds, etc.) and by cash funding it ourselves without a lot of debt load.

 

[mothercluckers]

Try putting golf balls in the nest boxs.

 

[brojrm]

Feed mine a mouse they chased each other around to try and get it!!