Cold weather..low egg production?

[chicamama]

I was getting about 4 eggs per day this summer (I have 4 hens). Now I'm down to maybe 1 per day?
Cold weather? Wind? Rain?
Should I change anything?

 

[silkiechicken]

It's 90% of the light. You don't have to do anything. Just let them rest for the winter! Perfectly normal.

 

[chicamama]

Quote:
ahhhh...thanks!
That makes sense. I thought they were getting mad becuase I was not out there with hot toddies.

 

[xke4]

Some people augment the amount of light they get in the winter but I prefer to let them rest. I don't eat the eggs so production is not an issue.

 

[swtangel321]

I add a few hours of light in the morning and night to help them keep laying, Chickens need about 14 hours of light a day to lay good !!

 

[mcg30_40]

I agree light is a major issue. I have a light on mine to keep up the laying but I've also learned that if a weather front or storm is coming through they will not lay. I have approx 20 hens and can go from 12 eggs to 4 in a matter of 24 hours. If it's raining or a major temp change (in AL it goes from 70deg to 20 in a matter of hours) then they won't lay that day.

 

[luvmygirlsinAK]

Quote:
Had the same thing happen today to me! Plenty of eggs yesterday, and was starting to get the same amount-bam-bam-bam!

until I opened the window wide for ventilation while fluffing up the shavings, and the temp. dropped about 20 degrees outside in a couple hours time-and along with it, the eggs!!! (With the lights on 14 hours a day) The girls were all fluffed up!!! Just a little protest, I guess!! luv 'em anyway!!

 

[Leah-yes I know I'm crazy]

I've gone from 1 1/2 to 2 doz/day down to four. After the holdiay baking used up the reserves hubby went to the fridge to make eggs for breakfast yesterday and there were none to be had. He was so confused. "What do you mean we don't have any eggs? Are you sure we don't have any eggs? Have you got them sitting in a basket somewhere?"
A month ago we had so many we ran out of space in the fridge.

 

[chicamama]

Leah-yes I know I'm crazy :

I've gone from 1 1/2 to 2 doz/day down to four. After the holdiay baking used up the reserves hubby went to the fridge to make eggs for breakfast yesterday and there were none to be had. He was so confused. "What do you mean we don't have any eggs? Are you sure we don't have any eggs? Have you got them sitting in a basket somewhere?"
A month ago we had so many we ran out of space in the fridge.

haha...I had to buy a dozen yesterday. Oh well, they can rest up.​

 

[legacyln]

"What do you mean we don't have any eggs? Are you sure we don't have any eggs? Have you got them sitting in a basket somewhere?"

Same here!! Had to run out at 10pm the night before Christmas Eve to buy eggs for all my cookie batters.

Of course I bought the pricey"cage free"-- can never buy those pathetic white things from the CAFO chickens again.

I basically shattered the first store egg into a million peices-- never realized what a difference there is in the strength of the shells, the store eggs are paper thin compared to home eggs.