Anyone noticing an unusually poor November egg production?

[BuffSilkie46]

Our 12 girls usually produce 8-9 eggs daily, the daylight and foraging out of their coop make a difference here. Lately we're finding the greyer the day, the less they lay! They eat their pellets, with an occaisional cabbage, peanuts or cranberries, but nothing special. Ours are only 7 months old, so next year may be different.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Mine has suddenly been picking up the last week. I was down to 2 a day if I was lucky....for the last few days I've had 6-8. That is still way down from my 2+dz a day but I'll take what I can get right now!

 

[HHandbasket]

Quote:
Thanks for this! I like this explanation, and it makes me a little less frustrated with our ladies. We have been down to an average of 0.25 eggs per day from 4 healthy hens since September. Partially due to a couple of late summer molts, but MUCH lower than I expected for our 2 year old hens.

Time to add to the flock!

Thank you for posting this! I have been saying for weeks in another thread on BYC that there has to be something going on somewhere, don't know if it's hatchery or climate change or weather or what the deal is, but this year/this fall has been the worst in egg production for a number of people on here... but I got practically ripped a new one in the other thread just for suggesting it. Thank you for posting this so I know I'm NOT crazy!

 

[FarmerJohn3285]

I've had a recent burst in egg production. Added more protein via BOSS and Nightcrawler Worms (on occassion). Added golf balls to the nest boxes as well. We went from maybe 1 egg every day or so to a dozen in the past week from 4 hens. My whtleghorn finally began laying as she was in a heavy molt through most of november. My pullet hasn't started laying consistanly yet so i don't count her anyway....

 

[HHandbasket]

Our girls also picked up in the last 4-5 days! We only have 2 that have begun laying, both EEs. They are usually on a very regular schedule, two days on and one day off. This week they laid Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday! We were really surprised they laid a third day, and we've had half a dozen eggs from 2 hens in 3 days which is a record for us!

I'm tellin' ya, it's only because November's over. LOL! (j/k)

I am getting a little impatient (5 birds over 30 weeks old of which only 2 are laying), but I know the eggs eventually will come. The barred rock is REALLY close. She started singing the egg song all day about 2 weeks ago, then started squatting this past Monday, THEN got up into the nesting box this morning and OH so completely rearranged EVERYTHING in there! She even buried the fake egg! So I'm thinking it should be sometime in the next week to 10 days or so!

 

[Country Living Farm]

Yes, yes and yes. Eggs dropped way down. 40 something hens and maybe 10 a day. No eggs = no extra money for feed, ect. I am barely getting by. BUT..........in the past few days, it seems to be picking back up. Its a wait and see now.

 

[cybercat]

I am now getting more red faces and combs from my gals. I have decresed scratch and upped there 20% layer. I have been feeding alot of popcorn that was a day old so they could put some weight on for winter. They are looking great and we have hit our lows already here. We are expecting snow sat thru wed and the chickens are eating alot right now. I am hoping to see eggs soon now that it looks they are getting back into production condition.

 

[Damummis]

I have 8 hens with 1 egg a day sometimes none. Not to mention one just went broody. 29 young hens not laying yet. They better pick up the pace or in the pot they go. It is so embarrassing to buy eggs when everyone knows you have chickens.

 

[singlemama]

I have 10 layers and get about 4-5 eggs/day. I noticed an improvement when I added a light on a timer for 6 extra hours of light. Before that I was only getting 2.

 

[TerriLaChicks]

Quote:
That makes so much sense! I've had chickens for several years now & never had such a poor laying cycle, and a guy I work with who also has chickens was just saying the same thing earlier this week.

On the other hand, since I'm only getting an egg or two a day out of my 12 hens, I figured now is the perfect time to worm them - so I don't have to feel bad about pitching so many eggs during the next 2 weeks.