winter eggs

[Nicos]

I'm getting 3 eggs a day from 4 gals- even in this cold weather!!! I'd have thought they'd have been conserving energy!

Thanks girls!

...anyone noticed a drop in egg production this week??

[HayleyB]

Only a tad thank god, mind you we have one laying ostrich eggs as well at the moment

[Nicos]

Only a tad thank god, mind you we have one laying ostrich eggs as well at the moment

Ouch.....

[lynda66]

i was reading about feeding chickens .... go me ..... anyway, apparently the reason they drop off laying in the winter is lack of protein .......... an egg is basically a big lump of protein, and cos they have to use the protein from their diet to keep warm, they don't lay as many, ...... however if you increase the protein in their diet when it's cold, they should lay throughout

[MaureenHall]

The only time there was a drop in production here was when I moved all the girls plus the newbies into the new big coop, think it took them a few days to work out that the cardboard boxes were actually for laying eggs in!

[HayleyB]

Hmmm, protein well maybe I'll get a few eggs today then, my lot had left over pork and chestnut stuffing, pork roast rinds, left over runner beans, buttered cabbage, a roast potato, pineapple juice a clementine that had gone a bit soft and grated cheese for dinner last night. Should've seen them scrabbling after the wormlike rinds they went potty

[Nicos]

I'm just wondering how much protein Hayley must be feeding hers then???

[Birdie Wife]

I don't think it's protein per se but mostly daylight hours that stop chickens from laying. You can provide them with an artificial light source and they will go on laying. There must be somehing else in it too, because otherwise chickens wouldn't lay anything over the winter and a couple of mine have just started up again after a break of a couple of months

[vicky]

We get between 2 and 4 eggs each day from our four girls, not a massive decrease from 3-4 eggs in the summer months - HAVE A BREAK GIRLS!!!

[lynda66]

I don't think it's protein per se but mostly daylight hours that stop chickens from laying. You can provide them with an artificial light source and they will go on laying. There must be somehing else in it too, because otherwise chickens wouldn't lay anything over the winter and a couple of mine have just started up again after a break of a couple of months

i can't find the link now, but it was something to do with the daylight hours yes, but mainly because they have less time to eat worms and slugs and caterpillars and stuff (protein), and cos theres less around, it reckoned that if you increase the protein as if they were foraging for insects you can keep them laying more.

[OverWyreGrower]

Our girls had a break most of December, from 4 birds we were only getting 1 or 2 eggs a day, then just before Christmas, we suddenly started getting 3 or 4 a day again.

I was told they need about 14 hours of daylight to 'make' an egg, which they certainly aren't getting!

They started laying properly after it got very cold and stopped being very damp, so I wonder if they didn't like the wet, but don't mind the cold?

[janeyo]

Our three have dropped from 6 every 2 days to 4 or sometimes 5 over the past month or so. The white star is laying less (white eggs from her so I can tell). Having said that I did have 4 yesterday form 3 hens

I find it amazing how they just keep on laying. Must be due a break soo. Maybe it's the porridge of a cold morning and they are so grateful they lay me an egg!

janeyo

[Glutton4...]

I'm getting 3 eggs a day from 4 gals- even in this cold weather!!! I'd have thought they'd have been conserving energy!

Thanks girls!

...anyone noticed a drop in egg production this week??

Nope - not me!

I've noticed a very slight increase in soft-shelled eggs, but only 1 or 2 a week more. I'm getting between 7 and 10 a day from 16 hens at present, which I'm impressed by. Perhaps it's the warm layers' mash every morning, and the corn and treats in the evening. Or it could be because I moved them to the lighter side of the garden, so they get a longer day.

[kirsty b]

Mine went off lay around mid-nov when they started moulting and days were really short. But noticed that one or two may have started again in the run up to Christmas. I do think that some of my girls never did start laying again after recovering from initial rescue (oct 2007). Out of 15 I'm getting between 2-6 eggs a week. But they are enjoying their rest and their appetites are just as hearty as always. Trying to give them as much warm food as possible during this cold snap.

[Noodle]

I only had one laying before winter, she stopped for a moult and hasn't started, but 2 others have started and at least one of the barn hens is laying (only got them at end of November).
I think they are a law unto themselves! I think if they stop laying for a bit they need a rest!