Notes on Egg Laying

The Hennies have been slow about Egg Laying for a while. Right now we are getting about a Dozen Eggs a day from 34 Layers, if we are lucky. 16 of those are Pullets and not all of them are laying.

We are pondering:

• Most of the Hennies from the Class of 2007 are molting. We know that Molting takes considerable Energy and Time (2 months). Perhaps, for Hennies, it is Nature's way of shifting the Energy from Egg Laying into making New Feathers as protection for the Health and Vitality of the Creature.
• The Common Recommendation in Contemporary Culture is that Layers are fed a 16% Protein Feed. Is that so that they lay Eggs according to Human Expectations or is that what they actually need? We do know that in our Society we tend to burn out Resources.
• We are currently supplementing our Chickens' diets with extra Protein to support their special needs at this time. That includes: Yogurt, Clabbered and Sweet Whole Milk, occasional Meat Scraps (no Fowl).
• Hennies need at least 14 Hours of Daylight for Egg Production. With the change of seasons, we certainly do not have that. Richard notes that Daylight goes from 7am to 6pm. Certainly that will continue to decrease, although slowly, until the Winter Solstice.
• We did use a Heat Lamp last Winter. Their Egg Production was at higher levels.
• According to a more Natural Calendar of Expectations, what would be the average and optimal quantity of Eggs by Hennies? I wonder what amount of Eggs did generations before (like Richard's Mother) observe?

Melanie asks: Does anyone out there have ideas about this?