Why Has The Egglaying Slowed?

[cmitchell]

My 15 brahma hens were laying about a dozen or more eggs a day. When the weather got better I started letting them out in the pasture to forage during the day. After a couple days of foraging I noticed the daily eggs declined to only about 5 or 6 so I put the hens back into the coop day & night. Why are they still only laying 5 or 6 eggs a day? What can I do to increase their egg production to what it was before I started letting them outside? Thank you in advance for any help with this.

 

[Ms.Frizzle]

If they arn't getting enough sunlight inside, this can reduce egg laying. they need light to stimulate the gland in their eye to produce eggs. Are they going through a molt? Have you changed their diet? Are they sick? Eating their own eggs?

 

[cmitchell]

It was when they were going outside that the egg production slowed. I'd put them out for the day & back in the coop at night. I was only collecting 5 or 6 eggs/day for the few days they went outside.

They were inside the coop all winter until recently when the weather got dryer & we finished fencing off the pasture. During the winter and until they started going outside they were laying a dozen or more a day.

 

[Arielle]

Also consider the overall protein in their diet could have dropped if they are free ranging on grasses and such. In anticipation of feeding scraps and foraging, I have kept with a 20-22% game feed. THere are many ways to increase the protein level if you wish to keep foraging or you can accept fewer eggs at a lower cost to you. Supplement with high protein sources: mealworms, red worms, peanut meal, soybean meal, meat scraps, game feed or turkey feed, dried cat food. With many choices perhaps one of these is acceptable to you to try. Do a little research to determine which alternative is right for you.GL