Alright, I'll start this off by saying I do not take a stance on any greater conspiracies with the messy world at play, because there's no need to get that political. But here's a question I've received a few times, and I'd like to put it to bed! I've been asked what I've been feeding our chickens and whether we think it's contributing to them not laying? Short answer, no.
We do buy our feed from Tractor Supply, but we use Purina, and a few different varieties depending on our needs. Apparently there's a rumor going around that the feed is what's causing them to not lay eggs! And if this were happening during the summer, there might be some truth to this! However, I invite you all to take a look at your calendar. It's not even February yet. And although it's weird and frustrating to us, especially if you are new to chicken keeping, chickens usually do not lay eggs in the winter! Think about it. If you were a tiny tiny baby with no feathers to keep you warm, would you do better in the warmer weather or colder? Obviously the warm seasons! Chickens naturally notice the shift in available sunlight and their egg production drops off. We have a few hens that are still laying, but it's not the majority. Sure, you can supplement their feed to help them manage proteins in the winter, especially because they get a new "coat" of feathers and need all the protein they can get, but that's not what will bring back production. Increasing light in their coop will, however chickens only have about 8 years of laying lifespan, because much like us they only have so many eggs in their bodies.
Increasing light certainly does get you more eggs through the winter, but in the long run it means they'll stop laying sooner. We don't like to mess too much with nature, so we let our chickens have a break. All of this is to say, unless your chickens are becoming sick from the feed you are giving them, it's probably not the reason they stopped laying eggs right when everyone became concerned about those empty store shelves! :) We have not changed our feed regimen, and our hens are starting to pick back up again, so at least in our case the feed is not the problem. I hope this helped you all learn a little more about the laying process, and hopefully assuage some fears!
I definitely want to post some more about the egg process too, so stay tuned!
Komentar