4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[DebC]

Hi

 

I got my girls on 17 August, and within a few days one of them started laying regularly. I think it's my Gingernut Ranger as the eggs were a light brown. They have been small (40-50g), but perfectly formed! the shells have seemed fine. The first couple were a bit thin, but they were soon fine. The trouble is I haven't had an egg for 6 days now. Is this normal?

 

I was worried that maybe their diet wasn't right. They are being fed layers pellets, they get to free range for at least a couple of hours a day (longer at the weekend), and have treats in the afternoon - normally corn. (I have been mixing their corn with layers pellets as they weren't eating very much of their normal feed). What else can I do

 

Am I just being over cautious?

 

Many thanks

[fluffyknickers]

hello,

 

I assume you mean that you have been mixing some corn into the layers pellets? Personally I wouldnt do this as the layers pellet should be the main part of their diet with a treat of some corn or veg/fruit etc.

 

They wont eat much to begin with and especially when they aren't laying.

 

I would consider worming them - just to rule it out.

 

To fill my girls up at night I make them some pellet porridge - but only before they go to bed so all day they have their layers pellets. I simply boil the kettle and get a bowl of pellets and add the boiling water and leave and after a while it swells and I mix and give to them - sometimes I add to it a treat of some fruit etc and some bokashi and if they need a pick up maybe some tuna or yoghurt etc.

 

I would also keep them in for the most of the day in their run just with pellets and then let them out so they have some time before bed.

 

Michelle

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree, hold back the corn and just offer a small amount in the late afternoon (doesn't even have to be every day).

 

Mazzy's right, they will start to eat a lot more when they're all laying.

 

When I got my girls 2 years ago, one of them laid 10 little eggs in October then stopped till the end of January . The other two laid over the winter though.

[Egluntyne]

I too would stop feeding them the corn as it fills them up without being overly nutritious. In fact, it can make them fat, and fat hens tend not to be good layers.

 

I'd keep them on pellets only for a week and see if there is an improvement. I'd also worm them to be on the safe side.