Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Darn birds.

My hens aren't laying. Granted, I did put a tarp over their pen and they were upset. And they did get really soggy last week with the rain.

But.

I suspect it's the base feed. Ever since I switched them 100% to oats, they LOVE it, but they don't lay well.

DRAT. I was loving the stuff being $8 for 50lbs.

So, the experiment is beginning tomorrow... when I go out and buy chicken feed, and straw to clean out the coop, and hay to lay out in their now-dry chicken pen and a light to hang up in their coop and a cover for my electrical outlet so I don't fry.

Featherbrains.

2 comments:

  1. Mine are off as well, although one lays occasionally. I figured it had something to do with the change in weather (wetter, darker, etc) since I haven't changed anything in terms of feeding. Oh, I did change their bedding type but I'd be surprised if that's it. I'm on a listserve and other people have reported similar occurrences. It's hard to tell, isn't it, just what changes will put them off their production schedule.

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  2. Mine have actually picked back up in laying because of our slightly cooler weather, and not so much texas heat. I would think that if they are only getting straight oats that's not enough. I know they need more balanced diet and more calcium especially if laying. Do you have free choice oyster shells for them? Also I like to feed back my used eggs shells, just be sure they have dried a bit or it might encourage egg eating.

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