Why are my 1 1/3 year old hens laying inconsistantly?

[harewizard]

I'm curious to know what % protein?? If you are feeding 16% and then adding scratch and other treats, it may be lowering the total protein. Try feeding them some cottage cheese or yogurt or scramble some eggs up. Animal protein is required as well as feed protein. You say they free range? are they eating bugs and worms and such? Another poster asked about molting? another thing- are the eggs being taken or eaten by an intruder?

so many things to go over... just trying to help!

 

[InsaneBreeder]

Quote:
No, they aren't molting. How do you give them calcium aside from their normal feed? I don't see any signs of mites, and I haven't seen any worms in their feces. Are there other ways to check for worms or mites? My mom puts diatomaceous earth in their food to combat worms, but do you know if this really works? I have my doubts.

 

[InsaneBreeder]

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I know, there are alot of factors

Would the protein percentage be listed on the feed bag? Would feeding them cooked rice and vegetable scraps lower overall protein? They don't get that sort of thing that often, but they get a few handfuls of scratch every day. They free range for about an hour a day, mostly eating grass and grit, but we don't have many insects here for them to eat. We have rat poison nearby in places where the animals can't reach it, so I haven't seen rats or mice in a while, and I've eliminated the dove problem. The only other predator we have is the mongoose, but I have never seen them near the coop and the coop itself is pretty much impenetrable.