Thank you for all of the great advice SJ Smith! Very good stuff to keep in mind

I agree with Michelle. When we had hens, they free ranged and we got an egg almost every day from each hen… no roosters either. I gave them scratch in the morning as I let them out; but it was more like giving a dog a biscuit. Protein and adequate calcium make good eggs. When we turned the compost, they gobbled up Japanese larvae like candy… and we often got huge double yolked eggs the next day. We had some volunteer wheat come up in the garden where we had laid straw for compost. We laughed so when it matured; because our hens used teamwork to jump up and knock the seeds loose… rather like watching kids break open a pinata. lol. They were great at keeping the weeds and insects down in the garden once the plants were established (they eat seedlings). Calcium was an issue at times. I could tell when their shells were thinning that it was time to supplement. Then I’d throw out a bit of oyster shell, or wash their own shells and toss them out for forage. Hope it’s not too much info at once for a post. Happy Homesteading!

Hooray! I bet they are much happier. -and I know the produce is healthier.

BTW… I don’t see a way to get notified when you respond to a comment, so if I dont’ answer something, it’s not deliberate. Feel free to e-me if you want.

Michelle-

Actually, since writing this post a while back, we have been free ranging them. They are laying nicely now

Question… Why don’t you let the hens free range like the roosters? Getting lots of grass, seed heads, and bugs will be extremely good for them and you. Of course, I have no idea what your setting is, if this would be an option for you.

Have you heard of Joel Salatin? Weston A. Price?

Heat definately will affect laying production and rather than stress the hens and shorten their lives we cut back on all corn/laying mash through the hot (we live in the desert) months. They are free range in a back yard with lots of grass, water and not to many (I hope) bugs. I throw any grain that isnt corn at them until it cools off. We go from 7-8 eggs a day down to 1-2 but the hens live longer and are not struggling against an unnatural desire to produce caused by food they wouldnt be getting in this season. Also be sure to wash hands (and baby) throughly after being out with the chickens as they do carry natural bacterias that could be bad for a tiny baby. Love reading your experience and congrats on the new lovely girl.