does cold weather slow laying??

[hawtchick]

I have been very lucky and my hens have been giving eggs 1 each everyday.
The weather for the past couple days has been brutally cold -20 below or colder, and we have gotten 1 egg in 2 days.
Is that normal??
they seem to be happy, although I did notice the roosters comb did have some frostbite........
They have extra treats, layer pellets, black oil sunflower seeds and cracked corn.....and fresh water with electrolytes, and a heat lamp for them to have extra warmth.

Thank you.

jess

 

[illinichick]

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.

 

[katrinag]

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.

 

[digitS']

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

 

[dangerouschicken]

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.

 

[katrinag]

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

 

[hawtchick]

I will try to be patient........ maybe I will have some waiting when I get home.
I gave them some warm oatmeal this morning so maybe I will be rewarded.
I am hoping the cold isn't stressing them too much.
Thank you.

 

[dboiler]

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

 

[Wynette]

Oh - you really shouldn't be giving electrolytes unless they are sick.

 

[WalkingWolf]

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.