Attention Mainers: Anyone have eggs yet?

[henney penny]

I`m in aroostook county and I have 30 hens and I get between 17 and 23 eggs a day and have been all winter,golden comets are 10 months old and three are 2 years old,the EE`S are 10 months old.I have a light on a timer so that they get 14 hours of light a day.

 

[ptig78d]

yeah, they went through a molt over the last month or so...that's probably why. I was reading about proper nutrition during the winter, and saw something about increasing their fat and protein levels...so I put some cracked corn out for them. I also placed a piece of fabric (left over from when DW made youngest DS curtains) over the door. Just attached it with staples to the wood above the door. They seem to have gotten used to it, b/c they came right out when I called to them while I was placing the bowl of cracked corn in the enclosure! It makes sense, though....that they would need more fat and protein, especially during molting...to grow the feathers back and keeping warm.
Thanks for all the great comments! We are planning on building an actual coop this spring, after taxes....weather should be fine by then.

 

[ghulst]

If you want eggs all year get birds bred for egg production. I would suggest red sex links and I am a big Isa brown fan. I got 34 eggs fron 37 hens today.

 

[ptig78d]

I finally got an egg! When I got home from my college class, I checked on the chickens and brought some fresh water, and found the plastic egg I'd placed in the nesting box down on the ground. So, I checked inside the nest box, and there was a beautiful large brown egg!

One of my girls came through for me!