There will be lots of eggs if the hens are happy and healthy.Ensuring that your hens receive all the vitamins and minerals they need is the best way to increase egg laying.Use starter feed and layer pellets to give your hens all the vitamins and minerals they need.During the colder months, keep your chickens in a warm and well-lit area to promote year-round laying and reduce their stress levels.You will have a lot of eggs before you know it.
Step 1: Chicken starter feed should be given to the hens until they lay their first egg.
This type of feed is used to develop the egg tract and frame of the hen, and will help to produce a strong laying hen.Each brand of feed has different portion sizes, so follow the instructions on your feed packet.On average, hens need about 100 grams of feed per day.Purchase chick starter and chicken feed from a vet.If you buy more than a 2 month supply of chick starter feed, it will lose its nutrition after this time.Some hens take longer to lay their first egg than others.
Step 2: Once your hens start laying eggs, feed them layer pellets.
Chickens need a lot of things in order to lay eggs.These pellets are designed to give your hens all the nutrition they need to lay large eggs.The popular brands that sell layer pellets are CopRice, Fisken Feeds, and CountryMax.It is worth checking the ingredients list to make sure that it is in the pellet.To find out how much feed to give your chickens, check the packaging.Chickens need about 100 grams of feed per day.
Step 3: If you want, give the chickens a little scratch feed.
Chickens like to scratch at the ground and pick up small seeds, insects, and greens.Egg laying is promoted by this.Give your hens the scratch feed after their regular feed and only give them as much as they can eat in 20 minutes; otherwise, they won't eat much of it.Feed the chickens a small amount of food and see how long it takes them to eat it.It is necessary to increase or decrease the amount in order to meet the recommended amount of feed.Grains such as corn, oats, or wheat are great scratch feed options.Purchase them from a vet.If you want to give your chickens table leftovers, you should remove any food that hasn't been eaten in 20 minutes.
Step 4: All the hens can eat at the same time if the feeders are long.
All of your hens can get the same amount of food.If you have some hens that are more dominant, this is useful.If you have a lot of chickens, long feeding troughs work well.If you don't use afeeder, spread the feed across the ground or provide multiple feeding stations so that all the hens have access to it at once.
Step 5: The hens will lay during the winter if there is a light in the chicken coop.
In order to lay an egg, hens need at least 14 hours of sunlight.In many places around the world, sunlight hours are lower in the winter.Put a light on the roof of your chicken enclosure to encourage your hens to lay their eggs.Don't worry about installing a light if your area gets at least 14 hours of light a year.The light should be placed on a timer.A regular lightbulb can be used from a supermarket or homeware store.
Step 6: Chickens should be given scratch in the fall and winter to keep them warm.
Chickens need more meat in the winter to keep them warm.If you don't already feed your hens scratch feed, give them some every second morning to get more nutrition.This will increase the capacity of your chickens.
Step 7: When it snows, clear a path to the chickens food source.
It is important for your hen's to be able to reach their food source if there is snow.If there is snow obstructing the path to the food source, you should clear it.Chickens do not like walking through snow and will stop eating if they can't get to their food.
Step 8: The temperature can be kept between 2 and 36 F.
Chickens will lay more eggs if their body temperature is comfortable.Use a heat lamp to warm the area if it falls below the recommended temperature range.The heat lamp can be set to come on once it gets dark.A heat lamp can be purchased from a vet, pet store or supermarket.The heat lamp should be kept at a safe distance.The heat lamp should be hung at the manufacturer's suggested height.
Step 9: There are no signs of damage or holes in the coop.
Fix broken wires, boards, and locks by looking around the entire coop.It helps to keep out animals such as dogs, rats, and cats.When your hens feel safe, they will lay more eggs.If you have a dog, keep it tied up at night to stop it from scaring the chickens.
Step 10: Provide private boxes for your hens.
Eggs can be laid in a private area.To give your chickens a safe place to rest and lay their eggs, place boxes in your chicken house.For every 4 chickens, add a box.Purchase a box from a store.If you make your own box, aim to make a 14 in cube.
Step 11: Your hens will have plenty of room to roam around.
This can help to promote egg laying by reducing the stress levels of the hens.Make sure that there is enough room for your hens to stand up and walk around without being touched by other chickens.Allow your hens to roam free-range around your property during the day if you have a fenced property.If you allow the hens to roam, be on the lookout for hawks and foxes.