HELP? Egg Production Stopped? Is this normal???

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SFChickens

SFChickens

Chirping
5 Years
Jan 22, 2015
23
1
74
Hi All,

This is our first year as BYC stewards - we have 3 girls that we got in February, all ameraucana (Peep, Pumpkin and Pepper!).

They started laying in June or so and by mid-summer they were up to 5 eggs every 2 days or so. As the winter came on, they slowed down, to about 1-2 eggs a day (for the group), but starting last weekend, they stopped laying ALTOGETHER. I haven't seen an egg in 7 days now :(

I am worried that there is something else going on - but maybe this is normal? If it is, please let me know so we can stop worrying? :/

Some facts for background:

  • They are in good spirits, running/talking/flapping like usual
  • We live in San Francisco - so the "cold" weather for us this winter is still really mild
  • Their coop is located such that they are in the shade most of the day
  • I cleaned out their coop really well yesterday - but I noticed that as a result of our first big storm, everything is a little damp (including the shavings). I am getting more shavings this weekend (the large block we got this year also got soaked in the rain)
  • I confirmed they have fresh food and water and appear to be eating just fine
  • they get snacks every day from our 3 year old, and this week I started introducing cheese to their snack setup because they are moulting
  • they are moulting (lots of small white feathers all over the coop floor, as well as some larger colored ones

Please let me know what you think based on your BYC experience?

THANK YOU!!!!
 
Junebuggena!

Thank you so much - so how long with no eggs is normal and when should I start to worry? or is "regular" egg laying year round not to be expected and as long as they are otherwise bright and healthy looking I should just relax about it?

THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE!!!
 
Pullets over 8 months old going into their first winter are old enough to go through the seasonal molt. While they are molting, their energy is spent growing in new feathers. Both eggs and feathers require a lot of protein to produce, most feeds only contain enough protein for one or the other.
The other reason for not laying in the fall/winter is the decrease in the amount of daylight. They require about 14 hours of daylight a day to maintain egg production. While most pullets don't stop laying completely, they do slow down quite a bit. Most of my flock is about 10 to 11 months old. Out of 11 layers (that were laying daily), I only get about 4 eggs a day. My Easter Eggers are only laying about once a week.
The good news is that the winter solstice is only about 5 more weeks away. Then the days will begin to lengthen and production will begin to resume.
 

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