Cat Biscuits - chapter 2

[bussinspain]

I have over the last 10 days reduced the amount of cat biscuits to one handful instead of 2, to see what happens with the egg production. It has taken a nose-dive from about 6 per day (from 7 hens) to 3 per day. But we have surpassed last years January total of 62 eggs - this January we have had 138! They only started laying in September 2013 so I am guessing that they are now about 18 months old.

[frias]

Only 1 of my 6 hens laying at the moment so although I don't begrudge them a rest while they moult and feather up I would like them to come back into lay soon. What brand and flavour cat biscuits have you been feeding your hens? Is it a brand available in Britain?

[bussinspain]

Frias - I only use Mercadona's or Carrefour's own brands of cat biscuits. They have about 29% protein in them. The chickens are on tuna and salmon flavour at the mo but they have had the meat & veg flavours too. They don't seem to mind which they have.

[Guest]

Only 1 of my 6 hens laying at the moment so although I don't begrudge them a rest while they moult and feather up I would like them to come back into lay soon. What brand and flavour cat biscuits have you been feeding your hens? Is it a brand available in Britain?

I know getting eggs it great, but.......
Its winter, its cold and horrible and they deserve to put their egg laying energy into keeping warm and healthy. Thy will soon get back into egg laying when spring is here.

[Scarlet]

...and they are also at their peak age for egg production.
Filling them up on high carb food can make them fat and could cause other health problems later in life. Meal worms are high protein without the carbs

[kathyd]

Mine are quite confused by the changes in weather at the moment I must admit. Some started laying, then a couple stopped again, and some haven't even bothered to try yet. They do love their mealworms though . I use the dried ones because I don't fancy wrigglies in the fridge, and presumably wriggly ones have a use-by date sooner than the dried ones? I have to get them from the UK because I've not seen them here, so they're strictly limited 'cos it's not the cheapest way of doing things, but I do think a protein boost is good at certain times eg moulting, coming into lay. Plus it's a treat I don't need to feel guilty about, and my ducks have become total addicts and 'might' even eat from my hand soon in their desperation for more! Lol .

[Scarlet]

All my young birds have been laying enough to last us through the week until last week. Now I've got one hen who is in full moult. Today is bitter but she is insisting on walking around. I might put the chick lamp in the shed later ...just in case.

Kathy..give this ago and let us know how you get on
How to Breed Mealworms: 9 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow

[bussinspain]

My birds do have a varied healthy diet (including the cat biscuits). They are quite well feathered up now - good job really as the NNW winds (gales) that we have had over the last few days have kept me indoors! 5 eggs today from 7 layers All the eggs are of good sizes too. Will be cleaning out their nest boxes tomorrow and giving their water bowl a good scrub out. How do they get so much dirt in their - are they pretending to be ducks by any chance? LOL! By the way we had 138 eggs in January this year.

[frias]

Last year was the first time since hen keeping I didn't buy a couple of POL so didn't have any youngsters to keep me going over winter. The Columbian black tail has continued to lay though even when moulting so have still had a few eggs. The Welsummer moulted in Sep however and probably won't lay again until May. The others have all moulted and re-feathered but age might mean that egg production will be sparse this year.