Changes that boosted winter egg production from 1 to 6 per day

[dancingbear]

Mine began laying again when they got through the molt. It happens at different times for different climates. I had several young pullets who hadn't started laying yet, who molted this year. They laid their first eggs after molting. I think I may have a couple that haven't laid yet. I don't recall that happening before, but until a couple of years ago, I worked full time, and may have missed it.

If your birds are molting, nothing you do will make them lay normally, until they finish. Black oil sunflower seed, fed as a supplement, may help them finish sooner.

 

[chookchick]

From what I have seen here, providing a constant supply of unfrozen water seems to be key to keeping them laying. (Not a problem usually here in the PNW!). It also seems that people who supply their chickens with greens constantly have good egg production. My hens are laying almost every day and they do not get extra light. I wouldn't mind if they slowed down to recoup for the winter!

 

[sandymart]

My seven girls hatched on August 13th. We found our first egg on New Year's Day. We are now getting 4 eggs a day. We do use the heat lamp at night (brrr....cold and snow) and check the water constantly.

 

[digitS']

I also think that it is mostly the light but I want to commend you on making sure that they have adequate water to drink, as well.

An egg is 75% water and a hen may lose 3% of her body weight producing it. We just can't expect her to do that if she's dehydrated.

And, don't forget the good food . . .

Steve

 

[magsrags]

Quote:
Makes a lot of sense to me as I just added a 65 watt red heat light due to our current freeze. My polish hen layed last night for the very first time. Added water to the small coop as well so it stayed thawed 24 hours.....
Go figure...........

 

[chickenfever]

I don't use artificial lighting, but do go out every morning(around 7) and poor hot water to thaw their water, which then stays thawed all day.

My girls are young, born 7/30/08, but are giving me about 5 eggs a day,out of 14 girls. The neighbor's chickens aren't laying at all. And they didn't lay the first egg until I started doing this.

 

[Gallus_domesticus]

Wow didn't know they went through light vs. heavy molts. My 12 month old just started laying again after about 6 weeks off- seemed like an eternity. She mainly lost neck feathers like someone else mentioned. They have not all completely grown back yet so I'm assuming that her egg production will not be that great right away.

Had heard that some are considered early molters vs late molters, the late molters being more desirable for commercial flocks. Does anyone know what (age) would be considered an early or late molt? (as in the first time)

Does going through a light molt pretty much guarantee that they'll have another one the same year? Just curious. But I'm so *%#! happy to have a fresh egg again!

 

[ursusarctosana]

I was surprised by my flock. All spring pullets, they began laying during the snowstorm here in E. Washington and laid right through the deep freeze and foot after foot after foot of snow piling up. My coop is a converted tool shed, long rectangular in shape, that housed two turkeys (now only a tom) on one side with a small door for the chickens to pass through to the far section designated 'chickens only'. I have one BB OE bantam cockerel and eight hens. I began getting about four or five eggs per day and for the past few weeks it's been seven or eight eggs per day. I have a red lamp in the chicken side and a red lamp in the turkey side. In addition, the chickens have fresh water all the time and there is a heated water container on the turkey side which the chickens have access to. I wasn't expecting them to lay during the winter. Also, due to the fact that they are mostly bantams: three Wyandottes and two cochins, plus a phoenix/RIR X and a phoenix/Welsummer X and one standard-sized Faverolle, I wasn't expecting a near 100% laying rate per day. I just think they are happy. I interact with them each day, change their straw, give them alfalfa, kitchen scraps, laying pellets, a little corn, oyster shell, and grit. When the weather's been nice enough I let them outside.

One interesting thing, though, is that I've never noticed my chickens molting. They were all spring chicks and I was told they would probably molt in the fall, but I never noticed any evidence of molting.

 

[cjstanman]

Mine are 22 weeks old and just started laying a couple of weeks ago. The weather has been cold, rainy and just crappy, not to mention it got down to 9 the other night - pretty darn cold for NC, ha ha! I also have an 85W red flood light in there to help with the heat, and check the (frozen) water frequently. I'm impressed my newbies can pop an egg out, ha ha!

 

[ghulst]

Light is the only trick. 14 hours of light is a must. Water is also inportant. 2 drinks a day is enough water.