Anyone noticing an unusually poor November egg production?

[naomipoc]

Our egg production from 11 hens went from 7-9/day to 5/6 per day in the early part of the month. My husband rigged up a light in the coop that goes on from 5 p.m., when it gets dark, til about 9 p.m. Within two days, egg production went up to eight, then 9 each day for the next five days. Yesterday was the day of my dreams: every chicken laid an egg!!! I really think they need the extra light, even if they spend it in the coop instead of in the run.

 

[BirdNut]

Hmm. I have two laying hens that each consistently give me one a day. Mine don't seem to be affected.

 

[msgenie516]

Hi,

I have 29 hens and I was down to 2-4 eggs a day. I added some light to the coops and I'm now getting 9-12 eggs a day. Not perfect, but a major improvement!

Genie

 

[stilldeb]

I pulled up a cheap solar light out of the garden and I put it in the coop in one of the nesting boxes at night. They were like 10 for $20 at Wal-Mart, and pretty crappy because they only stay on for about two hours, which is just about perfect for the coop, adding that extra bit of daylight! We call it the "party light" because it sounds like they are havin' a party in there. In the morning, I take it out and set it out to "recharge". My little Sebrights I've been waiting on just started laying this week, although my Polish crested isn't cooperating, but Tyra pretty much does whatever Tyra wants anyway (whenever my silkie roo tries to get frisky with her, she just gives him the 'stink eye' and he runs away!).

deb g
KY

 

[WolfShadow1]

My duck has stopped laying also? Thought at first it must be a hidden nest but just think she's on strike. Last egg layed was on November 2.....voting day. Three days prior she layed the tiniest egg she's ever laid. Next day the longest egg I've ever seen until November 2, which beat the previous days egg length! Now, nothing. She seems to be fine and I'm thinking it must be the weather change. Perhaps she's taking a break.

 

[kidd42]

We have also been wondering what has been going in with our 8 girls. First we had really weird weather this past spring and summer in Nor Cal, so that threw them off. Very chilly nights and day's throughout most of the summer. Then we had an extremially hat fall, high 90's with cool nights, high 50's at times. Then the girls went through a very heavy molt all at about the same time. And now shorter colder days. We have been lucky to get 3 eggs a week, and nothing for sometime from out two EE's. It's been a very strang weather year.

 

[Jeeper1540]

I got 10 hens, and it seems like more days then not, i get 3-4 eggs.

 

[littlethorn]

I have also had a serious slowdown in production here. The only one really laying is the little oegb hen that I keep as an indoor pet. I am assuming it is due to molting, very cold weather and short days we have been having here since I don't think it's coincidence that the only laying hen is also the only one kept in a temperature/light controlled environment.

I have been looking at coop heaters, but have not gotten around to purchasing one yet.

 

[ARose4Heaven]

55 hens/ 5 eggs. I am gonna rig me up a light and open up the winter shutters. Will just have to put heavy plastic over the wire instead of shutters. Even the duck quit layin.

 

[T.S. Adcox]

I am a first year chicken farmer...10 new layers. I have seen no slack on eggs. Got 10 a few days ago for first time, got 9 today. Mostly it 6-8 every day. However, I have a light in the inside coop on timer that gives them 15 hours of light each day. Also have a light outside with motion detector. When inside light goes on they mosey outside which turns on outside light. I get up before daylight most days and they are usually in outside pen, light on, happy as chicks should be. Weather here on New England coast has not gotten real cold as of yet, down to 27 degrees this AM which is coldest morning so far.

My problem is that although I get 6 or 8 or more eggs, several of them are pecked and cracked which means I am losing 10-20% of my production to damage caused by the hens themselves. Am working on a solution and if it works will share with all of you. Anyone having this problem?? What are you doing and is it working??