Snowy Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 We all know that increasing layers pellets and decreasing treats can improve egg laying, but i didn't realise just how much difference there could be between different varieties of feed! Mine normally get the organic pellets and I get through a bag a month for 12 chickens (including free ranging every afternoon) Just recently I couldn't get to my normal supplier in time so bought a bag of non organic pellets from Merrydale. This coincided with them having less freeranging time because of the new dog. I was very impressed as they started laying more and bigger eggs. But then we used up our third bag in as many weeks!! They do seem to have spilled much more of this feed, but they must have been eating some of it. But three sacks in a month makes it twice as expensive as the organic feed! Tuesday we went back to the organic feed. It is now going down at the normal rate and egg production is right back down again. Anyone else found this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Have they eaten more of the non-organic because their free-ranging was restricted, or because they liked the taste? Seems like the increase in intake really made the difference to their egg 'output'. Mine don't seem to care whether I feed them cheap or expensive feed. They just scoff it all down. I tend to go for the Smallholders range of layers pellets as the organic, whilst good, is sooo expensive. Saronne xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 No thats the thing - their freeranging is still restricted I have given them smallholders in the past and not noticed any difference. I wish I could remember what brand they sell at Merrydale. Even when they have been restricted in the past because of worming, they still haven't got through that much feed. I'm convinced they chucked most of it on the floor! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I just checked. It's Heygates feed. Never tried it with my hens. Perhaps there's a secret ingredient in it that makes them peckish! Still, mine get through 2-3 sacks per month of the Smallholders range. Are all your hens in lay? Saronne x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 Snowy, have you ever thought of mixing your own feed? I do now although saying that I did have a slight drop in egg production when they first went on it in August and now of course it's winter and moulting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckingmad Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 how bizarre! Mine are currently guzzling their way through a bag of organic feed bought from Omlet and due to moulting/winter setting in we're down to 3-4 eggs/day (the pure breeds aren't lying yet), although we still get regular softies from one of our ex-batts so we're starting them on ex-batt pellets once they finish this bag, will have to see if the change makes a difference to the egg laying... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenc Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 We get our feed from Merrydale and it lasts about 6 weeks and we have 4 hens and get on average 24 eggs a week. I did try slowly switching them to the Omlet feed when we first got them but they wouldn't eat it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 I switched to Heygates in early August had to get a second bag late September only had the 2 on layers at that time the first brand I had 1 bag lasted nearly 3 months surfice to say I'll be changing brands soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I was getting through humongous amounts of pellets, which I thought was due to guzzling, but have since found that most of it was on the floor I have changed my feeder and have halved my food usage! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I find that mine lay more with the Wiggly Wigglers layers mash...they do waste more but they love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beulah59 Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 We're using Farmgate mash with a sprinkling of A&P ex batt mash, and are getting an average of 3.5 eggs a day from 4 ex batts ... I'm really pleased! I will switch them to pellets eventually ... quickcluck - which feeder do you use now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adams Egg Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I got a bag of Countrywide layers and now get a constant 3 eggs a day and the hybrids are all 19/20 months, they also get mash of Wriggly Wigglers layer mash for breakfast to which I mix limestone flour, poutry spice and crushed oyster shell. I looked at the Countrywide label and from memory there was more protein content and no gm, whereas the previous brand had higher ash, some gm soya and lower protein so that must make a difference somehow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted October 19, 2009 Share Posted October 19, 2009 I had mine on the ex-batts range for about 3 months and egg production dropped significantly. I just put it down to the fact that some of girls are getting on a bit. I have recently put them back on Marriages and we are back to 6 - 8 eggs a day instead of 2 - 5. It took me a while to make the connection Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 from this to this the little partitions stop them from flinging it everywhere! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 from this to this the little partitions stop them from flinging it everywhere! I have swapped from exactly the same feeder to the same feeder as you quickcluck and have found the same results - a lot less food wastage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 We use Marriages Organic. Whilst Kilo is moulting & has not been laying for nearly 3 months, Krasi has been laying an egg every day bar 2 in that same time! We started putting cod liver oil in this week (Saturday) and Kilo has laid 2 softies since. We wondered if it was coincidence or if it's helping the egg laying return? Ours don't fling their food around unless there's Bokashi bran in it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
