Why aren't my hens laying?

[Lady_Grey]

Hello,

I just joined, and am *very* grateful that there is a forum out there full of people who know chickens. Hurrah! I have a flock of 21 hens, mixed breeds, about 6 months old, some laying since late August. Out of all 21, the most eggs I've gotten on any one day has been 11, though most days I tend to get a measly 6 or 7. I light their coop to give them 15 hours total of light, they have plenty of feed and water, they don't appear to be ill, it's not extremely hot or cold out, I see no evidence of egg eating, and there's no possible place they could be hiding their eggs. Perplexing. Does anybody have any ideas? Or do I have 10+ chicken pies out in the coop?

Thanks,
Lady Grey

 

[sjmarshall87]

Im having similar issues.. I have 28 hens and only 2 are laying.. they are 25 wks old.. The best advice I was getting was to keep them locked up later.. Noon-ish is when I let mine out.. Although I am still only getting 2 eggs

 

[BetterHensandGardens]

What kind of chickens do you have? Some chickens breeds don't start laying until about 24 - 26 weeks old, maybe all yours haven't started laying yet?

 

[faerielady]

What breed are they? What do you feed them? Free range or cooped? Hours of daylight a day?

Really need more information... however, most likely they just aren't mature enough yet.

 

[Lady_Grey]

Oh, let me see... I have Silver-Laced Wyandottes, New Hampshire Reds, Black Australorps, Partridge Rocks, Buff Minorcas, Brown, White, and Red Leghorns, and Araucanas. They have a big coop and free access to an ample run. I feed them with a mix that a family at church makes from local grains - oats, wheat, barley, lentils and such, with that supplement thing that seems to come from seaweed. It's dusty, so I mix it with water.

 

[sjmarshall87]

Quote:
You do not provide a commercial feed?

 

[Lady_Grey]

Quote:
You do not provide a commercial feed?

Nope, but they tell me it is nutritionally equivalent, or indeed superior. They and some other folks who buy it from them have had good results.

We had a long heat wave (mid-high 90s) that ended a week or two ago... would that set them back?

 

[Farm_Maven]

Quote:
You do not provide a commercial feed?

Nope, but they tell me it is nutritionally equivalent, or indeed superior. They and some other folks who buy it from them have had good results.

We had a long heat wave (mid-high 90s) that ended a week or two ago... would that set them back?

It may be equivalent to a 'scratch" feed, but will not be equivalent to a "grower" "flock raiser" or "layer" feed. They are completely nutritious feeds that you're not getting with the grain mix. Those scratch grain mixes are given as "treats" basically. They need a 'complete" feed.

 

[pinkwindsong]

having the same problem I have 19 over 24 weeks and I get maybe 6 eggs a day... I think I ma just rusing them I have several different breeds. and some heaby breeds. I jsut need to stop watching the kettle so it can boil.. did your grandma say that one too...

good luck with your girls..
)O(
Pink

 

[Cindy in PA]

Quote:
Nope, but they tell me it is nutritionally equivalent, or indeed superior. They and some other folks who buy it from them have had good results.

We had a long heat wave (mid-high 90s) that ended a week or two ago... would that set them back?

It may be equivalent to a 'scratch" feed, but will not be equivalent to a "grower" "flock raiser" or "layer" feed. They are completely nutritious feeds that you're not getting with the grain mix. Those scratch grain mixes are given as "treats" basically. They need a 'complete" feed.

The OP says it has the grains, legumes & a supplement which I would think is a mineral supplement. It may very well be a complete feed, just made locally. There are many recipes for feed that contain whole grains & a supplement like Fertrell's Nutri balancer and they are complete feeds. Complete feed doesn't only come in pellet form.