Will too much veggies slow down egg production?

[Kmath]

The last couple days my girls have only layed 4 out of 6 eggs. They used to lay daily now they don't. I've been feeding them lots of left over veggies and I've noticed they don't eat as much of their pellet chicken food. I'm guessing I should slow down in the feeding scraps department? Please help!?

 

[CrazyTalk]

Absolutely.
It could just be the weather though.

 

[dirtychick]

A change in feed usely changes production and vegs.don't have much protein also need lots of grit - can compact .

 

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Yep, you could easily be limiting total caloric and amino acid intake by feeding high fiber vegetable scraps.

 

[Kmath]

Ok great to know! I've noticed this since I started giving them more scraps. They don't even eat half of their chicken food. So I have leftover veggies and treats I would much rather not have to trash them so what would be an adequate amount to give them. Percentage of daily intake?

 

[pdirt]

Estimates I've seen are to limit treats (veggies scraps, grains, scratch, etc.) to no more than 10-15% of their daily diet, for ideal health and egg production.

A very rough estimate is if you have 6 chickens who will each eat roughly 1/4lbs feed per day (1/4lbs roughly equals 3/4c), then you're feeding 1.5lbs per day total (4.5c). Out of those 4.5c, no more than 1/2 to 2/3 of a cup should be low protein treats. Take this all with a grain of salt, as your chickens may be eating more or less than that, but it will give you some perspective. Such as if you're feeding 5 cups of veggie scraps to them everyday, then you are way overdoing it.

However, if your treats include lots (I'm guessing here, but perhaps 20-30% of the treats) of meat, fish or insect protein (ie, mealworms), that will help better keep the nutritional balance in order. Animal proteins have much more complete amino acid profiles whereas grains/seeds/nuts/veggies have varied amounts.

 

[Nupe]

However, if your treats include lots (I'm guessing here, but perhaps 20-30% of the treats) of meat, fish or insect protein (ie, mealworms), that will help better keep the nutritional balance in order. Animal proteins have much more complete amino acid profiles whereas grains/seeds/nuts/veggies have varied amounts.

x2

And just to add, you can also give them cooked eggs and you will want to offer oyster shell to supplement their calcium intake.

 

[Kmath]

I have oyster shell and I give it to them a couple times a week. They only seem to eat as much as they need. As per your calculations I definitely was overfeeding them. I think about 3 cups of scraps a day. My bad thanks again!