Why so few eggs???

[Kimmyk80]

I have a flock of 27 hens, ranging from 4 months to 3-4 years, and 2 Roos. Ever since this past spring, they have almost completely stopped laying. On any given day, I only get 1-5 eggs, even though 20 of my hens are of laying age. This has been going on since April. Here is the info:
I have 3 coops: 1 that is 13x9, 1 that is 5x5, and 1 that is 6x8.
Their run is approx 1/8 of an acre
I feed them twice/day: a 10 lb mix of layer and cracked corn mixture in the morning and a 2 gallon jug of fermented layer feed/corn mixture in the evening.
They have access to plenty of fresh water.

I treated the entire flock for worms toward mid summer in case that was the issue, but to no avail.

What else can I do? Everyone looks and acts healthy so I’m just at a loss. It’s costing me a lot of money to feed a flock that isn’t producing
:-(

 

[nuthatched]

I'd reccomended you cut out the corn.
If your layer feed is the basic 16% layer, which is the very minimum protein hens need to both live and lay, adding corn dilutes all the nutrition and the protein so reproduction isn't an option anymore, survival is the focus. Corn isn't really good for them.

Since you have roosters, an all flock feed is recommended, since non laying birds shouldn't have layer feed.
Switch to a feed that's at least 18% protein, no corn, and you may want to consider free feeding. If you can't find an all flock, chick feed will do, make sure to provide oyster shells for them on the ground.

Your average bird eats 3-5 ozs a day, (4) times 30 birds that's 120 ozs, 7.5 pounds. the 10lb in the morning should be more than sufficient for all day.

They are over eating, chickens do that when they're trying to make up for low nutrition food, they'll eat until their nutritional needs are met.

They're also older gals, older gals won't lay like sprightly 1 and 2 years olds, they've already peaked and are heading down the other side.

You can switch the feed but they won't lay until next spring, but they're production won't be half as what it was when they were young.

 

[Kimmyk80]

I'd reccomended you cut out the corn.
If your layer feed is the basic 16% layer, which is the very minimum protein hens need to both live and lay, adding corn dilutes all the nutrition and the protein so reproduction isn't an option anymore, survival is the focus. Corn isn't really good for them.

Since you have roosters, an all flock feed is recommended, since non laying birds shouldn't have layer feed.
Switch to a feed that's at least 18% protein, no corn, and you may want to consider free feeding. If you can't find an all flock, chick feed will do, make sure to provide oyster shells for them on the ground.

Your average bird eats 3-5 ozs a day, (4) times 30 birds that's 120 ozs, 7.5 pounds. the 10lb in the morning should be more than sufficient for all day.

They are over eating, chickens do that when they're trying to make up for low nutrition food, they'll eat until their nutritional needs are met.

They're also older gals, older gals won't lay like sprightly 1 and 2 years olds, they've already peaked and are heading down the other side.

You can switch the feed but they won't lay until next spring, but they're production won't be half as what it was when they were young.

Thanks for the info! I just started adding corn as a filler this summer. They had already pretty much stopped laying at that point. I have had chickens for 9 years and have always used the same feed and never had this issue. They always slow down when the weather cools off but I’ve never gone so long without egg production picking up. Some of my hens are only 6 months old but haven’t even started laying. I’m so confused.

 

[nuthatched]

Thanks for the info! I just started adding corn as a filler this summer. They had already pretty much stopped laying at that point. I have had chickens for 9 years and have always used the same feed and never had this issue. They always slow down when the weather cools off but I’ve never gone so long without egg production picking up. Some of my hens are only 6 months old but haven’t even started laying. I’m so confused.

You're welcome.
lot of birds are hit and miss this year, it's just part of the light cycle. I have a bunch of 6 month old free loaders too.

 

[Kimmyk80]

You're welcome.
lot of birds are hit and miss this year, it's just part of the light cycle. I have a bunch of 6 month old free loaders too.

I’m going to see where I can get a higher quality feed for a decent price. I’m hoping maybe the Amish near our community.

 

[nuthatched]

I’m going to see where I can get a higher quality feed for a decent price. I’m hoping maybe the Amish near our community.

I wouldn't recommend Amish for anything with livestock. Cooking and furniture, yes. But not livestock feeds.
If you don't buy corn, you can easily afford a quality feed from any feedstore.

 

[Kimmyk80]

I wouldn't recommend Amish for anything with livestock. Cooking and furniture, yes. But not livestock feeds.
If you don't buy corn, you can easily afford a quality feed from any feedstore.

Where I am, corn is cheaper than even the cheapest feed. That’s why I started using it as a filler. The higher quality stuff is upwards of $20/50 lb whereas the corn is around 10/50 lb.

 

[nuthatched]

Where I am, corn is cheaper than even the cheapest feed. That’s why I started using it as a filler. The higher quality stuff is upwards of $20/50 lb whereas the corn is around 10/50 lb.

I understand, but it's not good for them and doesn't "stretch" the feed since they have to eat more feed to reach their nutritional goal. Like eating a healthy meal but every other bite is French fries.
But if that's what you have to do the absolutely go for it

 

[NatJ]

Their run is approx 1/8 of an acre

Is there any chance that they are hiding their eggs?
Or eating the eggs?
Or something else is eating the eggs? (Snakes, rats, dogs, etc.)

On any given day, I only get 1-5 eggs, even though 20 of my hens are of laying age.

Have you tried looking at each individual hen to see who is laying?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Once you know which ones are laying, you can make better decisions about which ones to keep and whether to get rid of any (sell, give away, butcher). Depending on which ones are laying vs. not, that might also help figure out what is causing the trouble (could be several factors rather than just one thing.)