Anyone noticing an unusually poor November egg production?

[Beekissed]

I just found a hidden nest with 16 eggs...appear to be pullet eggs, so my pullets are starting to lay, but this is still very few eggs for the number of birds I have at laying age.

 

[phasianidae]

A.T. Hagan :

For you folks who have kept birds long enough to have a feel for year over year production are you noticing an unusual sag in November egg production?

My birds are laying about 20% fewer eggs than they did last November which is odd considering how many new pullets are in the flock. Haven't changed anything about their feed or management so I'm wondering if it's something environmental though what it may be is not immediately apparent.

Anyone noticing an unusually low November production?

well in MN here thats comon as production starts rapidly declining around that time​

 

[Gin530]

Question on the advice to give more protien. To get above 16% I would have to get chick starter. Is that what you would recommend? Or just more of the 16%? I mix corn with their mesh for heat and to economize.

 

[Boo-Boo's Mama]

Quote:
Check the label on the corn to see how much protein it contains...you might be diluting the protein of your 16% feed by adding the corn.

I feed Purina Flock Raiser, which has 20% protein.

 

[Gin530]

I'm sure I am diluting. So, how do you feed--straight flock master twice a day?

 

[duckinnut]

Ive got 6 RIRs and 4 barred and the girls average about 5 a day.You get 4 one day and 6 the next,then 5 and 5 or 7 then 3.But today my egg collector son reported a whopping 9 presents. Granted my girls are only 6 months old bot they are going good I think.

 

[vermontgal]

My flock are all pullets (now 33 weeks old). I thought the three who have started laying would lay through the fall. However, production is down to about 1 egg a day.

This is a good reminder that next summer when everyone is in full swing, I need to stash 5-6 dozen in the refrigerator over the summer to get through this period in the fall when we humans like to eat / bake with extra eggs -- just at the same time that our chickens like to slack off...

 

[aubreynoramarie]

four laying pullets + one unusually long blizzard somehow = four eggs this morning!

im still getting them regularly and i was told they would either stop laying or not lay at all until spring (they have JUST begun laying about a month ago). i get at least two eggs a day...and my fourth grl just started laying today

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Quote:
Its because of the decreasing daylight and temperature, if you want them to lay well over winter you need to provide light for them.

 

[Beekissed]

I'm pretty sure that is not the reason for my flock's slow down.

I've never provided light and have always had production in the winter months....not peak production but still had plenty of eggs and still managed to sell. This year's slow down is not the normal one for my flock. Definitely not typical.