Chickens laying well then hit the wall?

[jvpski]

We have 15 chickens, Golden Buffs and 3 EE. We were getting 11 - 14 eggs a day and then a sudden drop. For the last month avg is 4 eggs a days or less. The Golden buffs are from less than 1 yr to 22 months old. The EE are less than a year old.

I know the less sunlight etc., has an affect but should not be this drastic. Last year we had 6 chickens and they would avg 4 eggs through the winter months.

Any thoughts?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Likely? The majority were younger last year.

First year pullets are not as effected by the dark days of fall/winter. Older hens are. At the hen's second autumn, they'll often stop, moult and take weeks off to regenerate. As a hen ages, she takes time off and her laying decreases. It's all completely natural.

This is the reason commercial hen houses have an "all in, all out" flock flip every year, or at best, every other year.

To maximize egg production, people do provide artificial lighting. You'd be amazed how much it helps. The choice to do it, however, remains yours.