AJuff Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 hens lay more eggs if they freerange more than being kept in a run? Just looking for reasons why I get three eggs from nine laying chooks? I know two are moulting but the others? All have been wormed recently, have plenty of greens, eat their pellets, grit, garlic and poultry spice (I don't let them out to freerange until they have eaten them) and have plenty of water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Posted August 12, 2008 Share Posted August 12, 2008 I think chooks lay best when they're only eating pellets or mash as this is supposidly designed for optimum egg production.Freeranging though gives a better taste to the eggs and gives them a change of scenery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gamebird Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 My six girls free-range (behind 50m of electric fencing) all day, i.e. at the moment from 5.30am till 9pm. They root about in the grass and soil, have ad lib layers mash and treats of vegetables and corn in the afternoon. Between them they lay an average of 5.7 eggs per day which is almost a full house. This may drop off as winter appoaches but so far I have found that egg production does not drop if they free-range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sandychick Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Doesn't make any difference to mine. They lay zero eggs when they are in the run and zero eggs when they free range Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 13, 2008 Share Posted August 13, 2008 Mine are freeranging quite a lot at the moment - I let them out when it's raining to snaffle the slugs! I'm getting nine a day from the nine layers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surferdog Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 I find the opposite - mine lay better when they've been confined to the run for a full day. This only happens on the days I work in London though. (The Man who didn't want chickens says it's cruel to keep them in the run all the time and if we did it would make us no better than battery farmers ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Mine definately lay better when confined to the run with only pellets to eat, which only really happens when we are away. Whoever is looking after them when we are away usually gets more eggs than we do one of mine has not layed for nearly 2 weeks but she hasn't lost any feathers so not moulting maybe she is just working out how to drop her feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Doesn't make any difference to mine. They lay zero eggs when they are in the run and zero eggs when they free range How sad, but I'm sure they will lay soon and then you will wonder what to do with the glut of eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Between them they lay an average of 5.7 eggs per day which is almost a full house. Liking the egg related mathematics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Between them they lay an average of 5.7 eggs per day which is almost a full house. Liking the egg related mathematics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsallen08 Posted August 14, 2008 Share Posted August 14, 2008 Between them they lay an average of 5.7 eggs per day which is almost a full house. Liking the egg related mathematics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
