Chooks will go off the lay in extreme hot/cold spells.
In winter my dad said give them a little mince, it raises their body temperature and the eggs will flow.
As a kid we had 3 pieces of tin in the chook pen, about once a week I would lift one and mice of all sizes would scatter!
Chooks would line up around tin giggling in anticipation for the fun to begin
Always had the mulberry tree in the pen.
If I had chooks I would follow his advice, let them out for 60-90 minutes before their bed time.
They get to forage, they don't get enough time to wreck the garden and dogs and such only have a small window of opportunity to cause havoc. Animal husbandry 101 don't be lazy and follow the plan.
My rolling pigeon numbers have gone from 20 to 27 but I've only lost one. Totally useless but make me smile every time I send them up, costs will never be tallied because who buys joy on the dollar value?
