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‘My Koekoeks aren’t laying well’
S
IR ~ I have a small flock
of Potch Koekoeks
ranging in age from four
months to five years. They are
penned at night, but free-
range in the garden from
about 10h00 to sunset each
day as unpaid pest controllers.
In their coop they have access
to laying pellets ad lib and, of
course, their diet is supple-
mented by insects, greens,
fruit etc as they roam each
day.
They are, I think, happy
chickens.
Of late, however, their laying
rate has been pathetic, with
no more than an egg a day
and often none at all. The
situation is so bad that we are
almost reduced to buying
store eggs (yeucchhh!)
Also, to provide replacements
and young for my flock I have
a small incubator that I run
early each season for a couple
of batches.
The last few batches I have
run have had a very disap-
pointing hatch rate. For the
last two batches I had only
two chicks from a dozen eggs
to start, with more than half
having been infertile when
candled out.
I must point out that I am not
a beginner with small
incubators, having hatched
chicken, duck and goose eggs
for more than 20 years, in
incubators far less sophisti-
cated than the one I have
perhaps not getting enough
now, and with hatch rates of
protein in their diet?
80% or more.
Should I change them to
What is happening? Why,
broiler pellets and supple-
firstly, are my hens laying so
ment with shell grit to ensure
poorly and why, secondly, are sufficient calcium for shell
my hatch rates so low?
production?
Is anybody else experiencing
Any advice from readers of
such drops in laying and hatch your wonderful magazine will
rates?
be gratefully accepted.
Is it something in the feed? Or George Stegmann
water?
East Rand
Is there anything others have
tried to improve such poor
outcomes?
For example, are my hens
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