I have a bunch of chickens, [about 80], and I am only getting about 2 and a half dozen eggs a day. I feed a high protein layer mash and plenty of chicken scratch. They eat the scratch first and then go to the mash. the mash is 19% protein. I wonder if I should cut off some of the scratch and force them to eat the lay mash. What do you folks feed? I mean if they are not just a hobby. I am into this for the bucks.
A balanced diet for hens?
Hi Bigcee! Welcome to the forum: Not knowing any thing about your flock it's hard to really determine why the low egg production. Molting, to old, to young, chickens that are just not good producers, diet, are just some of the reasons why chickens don't produce. I found as you have stated my chickens went for the scratch much quicker than the laying crumbles. I simply give them scratch now as a treat along with brown rice. I'm sure others on the forum will respond with some good ideas as well. I'd take away the scratch for a starter. Good luck, and Merry Christmas.
things I can think of:
not enough food
molt -fall is the season for it, so if they are looking bedraggled...
less light than usual -a lot of rainy weather etc...
some obscure nutritional deficiency...
a cold or some illness going through the flock
extreme change in weather
Any one of these things may cause them to slack off for a while, and this assumes that you have a variety which lays well year round. if you could give us a little more about your situation that might trigger an experience or diagnosis. Good luck and please check back!!
How old are they and were they all laying regularly before now?
I would remove the scratch as it has no nutritional value at all and just give laying mash.
With the shorter days and less light hens tend to take a break laying you can provide lights in the coop to lengthen the day.
Is there any underlying cause illness or mites?
I do just raise chickens for a hobby but Id say get rid of the scratch or if you really want a cheaper suplement in their diet feed it to them in much smaller portions mixed in with their layers pellets. Then they will get a little of everything when they eat and probably get more of everything they need then they are now. Sounds like they are filling up on desert before dinner!
Thanks everyone for your help. I am going to stop the scratch and will let you know in a month or so if it helps........
http://www.lionsgrip.com/nutrition.html
I give scratch as a supplement. This looked to be a good site for diagnosing your particular problem /situation...
An old member provided a bunch of information about how she provided a balanced diet for her chickens. check out the following thread:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/888425/
Thanks for the link Kristen that was before i came here and it's TF.......