does cold weather slow laying??

I've been getting anywhere from16 to 22 eggs from 25 hens and it was -5 this am. It's the amount of light, not the temp that matters.

 

IMO light and temps matter. They need about 14 hours of light a day to lay. I choose not to add light in the winter. It is a break the they need to get ready for the spring.

 

Stress of any sort interferes with egg production.

I choose not to add artificial heat in the winter. It is all up to warm chicken bodies with plenty of food & water in an insulated coop.

Steve

 

I also refrain from extra heat/light in winter. It is natural for their bodies to take a rest, and natural for them to be able to endure our area's temps, which are never below zero. The reduction in egg production is not such a big deal, because we keep Buff Orps and Black Sex-link, who seem to lay no matter what. We have EE's that keep laying every few days, too.

 

You will also see new layers lay pretty regular in the winter.

 

Interesting topic as I have been concerned about our Australorps production lately. We have 14 and are getting only 3-5 eggs a day. It's been very cold, -14 with wind chills -31, and I had a heater running in the coop but turned it off as I just can't sleep at night with it running. Barn fires worry me. Anyway, I guess I'll just let things be and wait till warmer weather - probably around August.

Dave

 

Not sure if chickens are like parrots, but I raised parrots some years back. A drop in humidity can cause egg binding with parrots. With cold air comes also dry air. I had one hen still laying and she has stopped with the cold, I am not going to induce her to lay with light or heat. I eat to many eggs anyway and have a fridge full now.