19 weeks, 2 days... 0 nesting box interest. Normal?

[aart]

Ya just gonna have to wait!
Days are shortening, that can slow them a bit.

 

[Panhandler80]

Ya just gonna have to wait!
Days are shortening, that can slow them a bit.

Oh, I know. I didn't check this morning. Was pouring down rain.

I wonder how much shortening days affect them in FL vs MI.

 

[aart]

I wonder how much shortening days affect them in FL vs MI.

Your days are still longer than mine, but they detect the decrease way before we do.

 

[Panhandler80]

Your days are still longer than mine, but they detect the decrease way before we do.

I guess my question is, in our estimation, do chickens dial it back at the same time and to the same extent regardless of how far N / S they are? Doesn't seem like they would, but who knows.

I know there are parts of the south where deer are bred almost year round. In the N, however, it's critical when fawns drop, so there is but one way more defined breeding period. Was thinking chickens here might taper a little, but not to the same extent as up there, because the don't sense days getting so much shorter so much quicker.

 

[aart]

I guess my question is, in our estimation, do chickens dial it back at the same time and to the same extent regardless of how far N / S they are? Doesn't seem like they would, but who knows

Not sure, but do know the duration per day of light is a factor,
as well as whether daylight is increasing or decreasing.

 

[City Farmer Jim]

I think I read here it is 14 hours of day light to make an egg...makes me wonder what the chickens think when breakfast is done in 20 minutes....lol

 

[Panhandler80]

I think I read here it is 14 hours of day light to make an egg...makes me wonder what the chickens think when breakfast is done in 20 minutes....lol

Well, if it makes the bird brains feel any better, I've worked that long and longer on meals that have been done in 20 minutes or less. I bet I drank more beer in the process, though!

 

[City Farmer Jim]

I think I read here it is 14 hours of day light to make an egg...makes me wonder what the chickens think when breakfast is done in 20 minutes....lol

Any news on the egg laying front ?

 

[Panhandler80]

20 weeks 1 day and one small slightly misshaped light brown / cream egg. Was in a nesting box this afternoon.

This morning I noticed that one of the mock eggs had been moved so I knew somebody had been in the nesting box, which I found encouraging!

Months ago I predicted yesterday (my 40 birthday BTW) to be first egg... Was only off one day. I'll do a thorough search of coop and run tomorrow to look for others.

 

[Panhandler80]

Just went and did a top to bottom search. Found one under coop. Hopefully that doesn't get to be a common thing. I can't go crawling under that every day. Fact that one was in nesting box is encouraging, though. Three of the five nesting boxes also had the straw Disturbed even though only one had an egg. So they are getting in there and checking it out.