Are your hens' eggs smaller in the winter?

[horsewishr]

Mine have been small lately, but it's been frigid here. My guess is that the girls are conserving energy. Do you think I can expect the eggs to be bigger once the temperature increases? The girls are about 10 months old, and my eggs are now averaging about 2.2 ounces. (FWIW, I have a BR, RIR, BO, and a BA.)

 

[ChuckenGirl]

is it there first year? usually when they start laying there eggs are smaller

 

[horsewishr]

yes. they're 10 months old. but the eggs have gotten smaller in the cold weather.

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Our young chickens are laying small eggs and ocassionally a larger one. We like our eggs small, they work well in our egg poacher. We have only two older chickens left which lay large eggs, we give them away, they will soon be going to the pot for soup.

 

[spottedtail]

2.2 oz. is a good size.
What was the average weight before they went down?

spot

 

[ibpboo]

Occasionally I do get a smaller egg. Once in awhile I get a huge egg too!

 

[MissPrissy]

Mine pretty much stay the same size. Sometimes I might get a smaller one.

Are you offering free feed? They may need a nutritional boost in frigid weather. On really cold days here I toss out a handful of kitty kibble with the a bit of cracked corn in the late evening. They are getting some extra protein and then the added corn to help with staying warm.

Remember kitty kibble is made for cats, not for chickens. So don't over do it. There are things in there that might get them chemically unbalanced but the occassional extra does help.

If you have some extra eggs you could cook them and feed them back to your hens with some cooked rice and yogurt for a good boost too.

I have noticed this winter that the day after I have given my chickens warm oatmeal, rice, chopped eggs and yogurt I get better eggs. I mean like super eggs. Hard shelled, really rich yolks and tight whites.

 

[horsewishr]

Thanks, Prissy. They do have plenty of food, and I give them BOSS and kitchen scraps on occasion. They SCARF up lettuce and tomatoes this time of year. I'll try giving them some oatmeal today. It's been a VERY cold winter here.