What to Feed

[morgan36]

I have 10 laying hens and I am feeding them laying mash. I am only getting 3 eggs a day i know that at least one of my hens is giving me an egg a day. I was wondering if there is something else that I can feed them to up the egg production thanks for any advice

 

[Mr Eggcentric]

In order to answer your question some information on your chickens is needed like what breed(s) are they and could you tell us their age. Also you mentioned you were feeding laying mash, which, as I understand it, mash is fed to babies or teeny-tinys when their throats are too small to swallow anything big, and as your pullets grow, the feed is changed from a mash, to a crumble and then maybe to a pellet feed. "upgrading" feed as your chickens grow enable your birds to eat more easily and more efficiently. Larger feeds also reduce the amount of food wasted by the chickens, so you know your birds are getting more of the food you are feeding. That's where I would start. Good luck.

 

[Cindy in PA]

In order to answer your question some information on your chickens is needed like what breed(s) are they and could you tell us their age. Also you mentioned you were feeding laying mash, which, as I understand it, mash is fed to babies or teeny-tinys when their throats are too small to swallow anything big, and as your pullets grow, the feed is changed from a mash, to a crumble and then maybe to a pellet feed. "upgrading" feed as your chickens grow enable your birds to eat more easily and more efficiently. Larger feeds also reduce the amount of food wasted by the chickens, so you know your birds are getting more of the food you are feeding. That's where I would start. Good luck.

Many people feed mash to hens. Pellets may be less messy, but they also take less time to eat, so there is more time to pick at each other. It depends on what works best for each person. Sometimes you can only get local feed that you think is superior to mass produced, in mash. It depends on lots of things.

 

[morgan36]

I have 3 New Hampshie red. 3 White Leghorns, 2 Black Minorca, 2 Easter Eggers they are all about 1 year old thanks for the help I will try to post picks later

 

[Chris09]

In order to answer your question some information on your chickens is needed like what breed(s) are they and could you tell us their age. Also you mentioned you were feeding laying mash, which, as I understand it, mash is fed to babies or teeny-tinys when their throats are too small to swallow anything big, and as your pullets grow, the feed is changed from a mash, to a crumble and then maybe to a pellet feed. "upgrading" feed as your chickens grow enable your birds to eat more easily and more efficiently. Larger feeds also reduce the amount of food wasted by the chickens, so you know your birds are getting more of the food you are feeding. That's where I would start. Good luck.

You can get Starter, Grower, Layer and Breeder Feed in a mash form.

 

[Den in Penn]

Layer should be a complete feed. If there is something else to add to their diet that increases the number of eggs either everyone would know or the egg producer who does keeps it a closely guarded secret. There may be something else going on with your hens like a molt or some stress that is slowing them down.

 

[LunaticCafe]

Could they be laying anywhere other than in their nests? I have a friend who suddenly wasn't getting many eggs from her hens. Turns out they were laying eggs in the compost bin.

 

[donrae]

Could they be laying anywhere other than in their nests? I have a friend who suddenly wasn't getting many eggs from her hens. Turns out they were laying eggs in the compost bin.

This.

Are they free ranged at all? Do you need to go on an egg hunt? Those breeds at that age should all be laying. Have you ever had more eggs than this?

If you could post pics of your birds would be great.

 

[windzbreezy]

Are there hormones in the layer feed?
If so, that's a bit discouraging.

 

[Wildtim]

Probably no hormones in the feed. Growth hormones aren't cheap and would, for some, be a selling point that would be advertised. Not advertised it's highly unlikely they are there.