Things You'll Need
- Good quality layer feed
- Used egg shells, ground oystershell or limestone
- 40 watt light bulb
Instructions
Ensure your flock has a well-balanced diet. Feed them a good quality layer food that contains all the nutrients they require. Grains such as corn and table scraps are treats for your poultry so do not overfeed them with these.
Give them a good supply of calcium. Old eggshells can be safely re-fed to the flock provided they have been first sterilized. Preheat an oven to 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the eggshells on a baking tray and bake in the oven for approximately 20 minutes until the shells have become brown and brittle. Allow them to cool and then crush finely with the end of a rolling pin. This will ensure that the poultry do not start to cannibalize their freshly laid eggs. Include it in your flock's feed at a rate of approximately one tbsp. per bird per day, after egg production has started.
As an alternative, provide the chickens with a supply of either finely ground oystershell or limestone.
Check that food is always available. Poultry will only eat what they need and a break in the food supply, even for a few hours, can reduce the amount of eggs produced.
Ensure there is a supply of fresh, clean and cool water. This is especially important during hot weather.
Allow your poultry access to between 12 and 14 hours of daylight a day. During the fall and winter, when there is less daylight, consider extending light hours by using a 40 watt electric light in the chicken coop. This will help to maximize egg production during a typically barren period. Be aware that extending the laying period in this way, over a long period of time, may ultimately shorten the laying life of the birds.
Avoid high temperatures and ensure that shade is always available together with a supply of cool water. Provide good ventilation in the coop with both a door and window at opposite ends to allow a through-flow of fresh air.
Check for parasites. If you suspect an infection, speak to your local veterinarian for advice.
Avoid stress. Chickens react badly to stress and often lay fewer eggs as a result. Maintain laying levels by ensuring a stress-free environment that is free from predators, unexpected shocks and frequent changes in routine, especially food stuffs and people. Allow your flock to enjoy a peaceful life.