Total halt of egg laying, normal?

[Doughpat]

Hi All,

I've got 2 Barred rocks and 1 RIR, all about 1.5 years old, and I haven't found an egg in probably 2 weeks! I know they're supposed to slow down in the winter....but total cessation!? We've had "the talk" (they didn't seem to listen), and I'm 99% sure they aren't stashing them anywhere in the yard (I've looked high and low). They've got food and water, though they did "run out" of food for about 6 hours a while back. But they free range all day, so it's not like they had nothing to eat. Any thoughts?

 

[patandchickens]

Yes, normal. (Well, well within the normal range of variation for what happens when days shorten this much, anyhow).

They probably laid better through the winter last year when they were pullets; subsequent winters, chickens often don't do as well.

(edited to comment: jeez, did I use the word "well" enough times, there? LOL)

If it's taken them til Dec to quit laying, there's a good chance they'll start up again in January, probably earlier rather than later. Hoard the eggs you've got in the fridge, but probably you won't have to go without for *too* long

Good luck, have fun,

Pat