Greetings!
As a first time chicken keeper, I am not sure of a typical egg cycle. However, I am aware daylight, stress, breed, and age are factors. Here is my issue: I have four first-year layers, all different breeds (Australorp, Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, and Brown Leghorn.) We live in California, where fall and winter are pretty mild. We only hit freezing temps a few days a year, and haven't come close yet this fall. With the shortening days, egg production has slowed a little, but is still going strong gor three of my girls. My Brown Leghorn, Margo, however, hasn't laid in five days. Does that seem odd? I think she is the least cold hearty, but it's not winter yet, and it's still
nice out, for the most part. Yes, days are gettinng shorter, but it's only November 2nd. I was half expecting a double yolker today, since that's what usually happens if she skips a couple days of laying. Is there any reason for concern she could be stressed? Her behavior is perfectly normal. She is the best at digging for worms, still likes to cuddle with me, yet is still the most flighty (true to her breed''s personality.) She is the "skinniest" girl, but, then, she is the leanest breed of my four. Her feathers are beautiful, eyes are bright, comb has good color. The only other clue is there didn't seem to be as much poop in the coop and pen today... possibly. Does anyone want to weigh in on whether I should be concerned? Could she just be more sensitive than the other girls to the reduced daylight hours? Also, we have had unseasonal early rain, which kept them cooped up more than normal, but that had passed. Thanks for sharing any advice, statistics, anexdotes, etc. you may have. Margo and I thank you for it!
As a first time chicken keeper, I am not sure of a typical egg cycle. However, I am aware daylight, stress, breed, and age are factors. Here is my issue: I have four first-year layers, all different breeds (Australorp, Barred Rock, New Hampshire Red, and Brown Leghorn.) We live in California, where fall and winter are pretty mild. We only hit freezing temps a few days a year, and haven't come close yet this fall. With the shortening days, egg production has slowed a little, but is still going strong gor three of my girls. My Brown Leghorn, Margo, however, hasn't laid in five days. Does that seem odd? I think she is the least cold hearty, but it's not winter yet, and it's still
nice out, for the most part. Yes, days are gettinng shorter, but it's only November 2nd. I was half expecting a double yolker today, since that's what usually happens if she skips a couple days of laying. Is there any reason for concern she could be stressed? Her behavior is perfectly normal. She is the best at digging for worms, still likes to cuddle with me, yet is still the most flighty (true to her breed''s personality.) She is the "skinniest" girl, but, then, she is the leanest breed of my four. Her feathers are beautiful, eyes are bright, comb has good color. The only other clue is there didn't seem to be as much poop in the coop and pen today... possibly. Does anyone want to weigh in on whether I should be concerned? Could she just be more sensitive than the other girls to the reduced daylight hours? Also, we have had unseasonal early rain, which kept them cooped up more than normal, but that had passed. Thanks for sharing any advice, statistics, anexdotes, etc. you may have. Margo and I thank you for it!
