Can new heatlamp be causing them to lay first eggs in Winter?

[valentinebaby]

I'm not really sure about whether those who are molting stopped laying...I know that Goldie, my remaining EE, layed a blue egg today and she started molting about 3-4 weeks ago. If they don't stop laying all together (which most of the books say they do), then I think they slow down. Most of their energy goes into producing new feathers, which is what you want. It also gives their bodies a break from egg production. Molting can take as little as 6 weeks to 12 weeks. But most of mine seem to be going a bit faster, so I must be doing something right! You can tell how fast they are molting by their primary wing feathers - if they lose one at a time, it will be a slow molt. One of my NHR's, Ginger, started molting 1st, about 6 weeks ago and she just layed her 1st egg since molting, so it took her a bit longer. Since Ginger always lays a white speckled brownish-pink egg, hers is easy to pick out from the others.

I've lost 3 hens in the last month - one to a hawk, one to a dog (didn't kill it outright, but I think it did internal damage I couldn't see and she just disappeared one day), and the other to something, so I only have 8 left out of my original 12. Unfortunately, I've had to start keeping them in their run instead of letting them free-range. Didn't come this far raising them to keep losing them! I do let them out for about an hour before the sun goes down since they love it sooo much. I don't have any roosters (don't want to disturb the neighbors), so I can't answer on the mating issue!

I've always trusted my own instincts and frequently go against what some on this board say to do! I.E. I don't sterilize their drink bowls every day...feel it prevents them from developing healthy antibodies and mine have never had a bit of disease or worms. So, when I felt it got too cold outside for them (or me thinking about it) to sleep at night, I put out the heat lamp and at least I feel better! I know they do too!

 

[valentinebaby]

Oops!

 

[LilDucky85]

Quote:
Im sorry to hear about your loss. Thats terrible.

I guess Im a mean duck Mom because mine stay in their house and run unless Im out there or near by. Im too scared something will happen to them.

I did the same thing with adding the heat lamp. I literally couldnt sleep at night knowing they could possibly getting frostbite while I lay in my nice warm bed. So finally I just did it. I appreciate everyones suggestions and help on here, and I always listen to everyone, but this time I just had to do it to feel better. I figured what harm can it do? Besides the boys picking on the girls like I mentioned before everyone is happy and healthy!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

you'll be just fine without the heat light, ducks are built to handle the extreme cold weather, they actually like it. With all the tight feathers , air filled down, fat layers, etc, they dont even notice it's cold. Just watch the water /feet, an open water source is great for them, but most northern areas would have to have aeirators going to prevent freezing, so just a water font is best. As for the light hours and laying, that's true, 90% of all fowl are in the12-14 hours of daylight range, a few of the breeds created for egg production will be the only exception to that. However, inferred lights dont count. If you had a white bulb in, it would, so that's not the case with yours, they just decided to start laying, maybe the warmth, who knows. As for 2 a day, well, that's great, should not cause any trouble, every now and again they'll do that. It's not normal, but no cause for imediate alarm.
I think you'll be just fine either way with them, even if molting, they do it in stages, not like they'll drop them all at once and be naked!

Good luck and enjoy them

 

[valentinebaby]

Lil Ducky -

Update: I've been keeping the heat lamp on - it really doesn't warm their coop to the point of real heat. This morning, with 9 degree lows, I went out to check their water and it was frozen inside the coop, and I use the deep litter method as well. So, I doubt the heat lamp is going to negatively affect them to "not get use to the cold" cuz it was cold enough to freeze the water! Since I've had so many losses within the last month 1/2, I've been keeping them in their coop/run and only letting them out about an hour and 1/2 before sunset. I'm also getting an increase in eggs, but think this might be due to the fact their "locked" inside their coop and run and can't lay them somewhere outside amongst the shrubs. It's 13 degrees outside right now and they're out in the run, so they are tough lil boogers!

Gail