Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[johnandkymberley]

Hi, i got my eglu and hens last Thursday, the hens are 9 months old and are already in lay. I am however a little bit worried, i just want to confirm im not expecting 6 eggs a day. But, on Friday i came home from work to find 4 eggs, then i have had 1 egg a day over sat,sun,mon and today. I am worried that my hens arent settled, do you think there is something wrong with them? they started to free range on Saturday and have done since then, would this have affected them? thanks in advance xxx

[Chucky Mama]

You may need to keep them in for a while in the morning to make sure that they fill up on pellets before they free range. I am having egg issues with mine - few eggs plus the odd softie. Mine free range all day and I think that there is so much lovely stuff to eat in the garden that they are taking in too few pellets.

[cluckingmad]

Sounds like they're just getting into their stride, Etty and Flo went off laying when they came to us initially having been laying almost daily at their old home... I agree with letting them stuff themselves on pellets, let them get used to their lovely new home and the egg's should come Time to worry would be in anyone seems to be in discomfort or starts to walk a bit like a duck (apparently they do that is an egg isn't coming through properly)

[johnandkymberley]

We regurlarly get up early to let them out so that would make sense as to why they arent getting enough pellets. how long should we leave them in the run before we let them out to FR? would an hour be long enough to fill up on pellets?

[Christian]

Hens tend to graze feed all day, so tend not to stuff their faces (or beaks) in one sitting - unless it is corn

[johnandkymberley]

Hens tend to graze feed all day, so tend not to stuff their faces (or beaks) in one sitting - unless it is corn

 

 

Would it be better to open the Cube door in the morning and leave them in the run for an hour or two and then let them free range as much as possible when we're home etc? give them a variety of different food i.e grass, scattered corn on grass and leaves and dandelions etc?

[Christian]

Yep, I would leave them in the run in the morning, so they eat more pellets. Not only do the pellets help with egg production, they also contains the vitamins and minerals a hen needs to stay healthy.

[squidsin]

This is interesting. I let mine out early too - otherwise they can see me in the kitchen and all press up against the front of the run, looking hopeful and slightly forlorn until I open the run door! I haven't had any eggs yet either, and I had noticed they're not that interested in their pellets. I think I've been spoiling them too much!

[cluckingmad]

 

I get the forlorn little looks too, and the mad scramble/squarks as I approach the run - sadly for my beauties both hubby and I work full time so they only FR in evenings and at week-ends

[Gelbel]

You ought to hear the noise from my three when I they realise it's me that has opened the patio doors and approach the WIR. They are much quieter for the DH and went totally when my friend popped to see them yesterday. And I have narrowed it down to it's me that lets them out to FR on weekends (when I am about - so they have not been ouf since the May Day Bank Holiday ) - nothing to so with the hand that feeds.

 

They also press up against the wire as if they want to try to grate themselves through it.

 

Anyway back to the subject - I don't tend to FR them until after 10am so they can have their pellets and I shut them up by 7pm at the latest (now it's day light into the evenings). Madge is still learning how to lay (we are gradually getting more and more shell on her eggs) and she can suffer with softees if she over FRs as she is a greedy little madam. Ada has missed a day or two since we have had her - always within a day or two of all day FRing. Interestingly, Cissie will always pops back in to have a nibble of pellets once or twice a day when they are FRing and has not missed a day laying.

[Christian]

When I go to work for a couple of nights and they are all locked in their runs, I get more eggs, than if they free range.

[littlehenny]

NOOOOO ours haven't layed for a month and we got our first today X So they were just having a break. ur chooks will just be getting into there stride!!!