Does the extreme cold affect egg laying?!

[ILoveJoe]

My girls have been laying since the 15th of November and the quantity has slowly increased. Yesterday we had 10 eggs (one was a soft shelled fart egg) but today only 3 eggs!!

Is it the cold weather?

Should I be concerned a rat has somehow gotten access to the coop and is eating the eggs?

 

[skeeter]

could just be a day they all decided to take off,but if it is too cold they can slow ,mine have,
my Aunts lay eggs all winter

 

[Mahonri]

I'm in Phoenix and mine have slowed a little... instead of 12 or 13 a day we get 7 or 8.

 

[ChickenToes]

I personally think cold can take a toll on egg laying. Our coop was uninsulated until 2 weeks ago. Since we insulated the coop we are averaging 2 to 3 more eggs a day than we were before.

 

[erinm]

Mine are laying eleven eggs daily and it is in teen digits off and on. But I have cold hardy dual purpose breeds. They seem to lay well all winter. I have 16 hens. I swear egg production went up when my roo matured. Is this true? ErinM

 

[morelcabin]

Well, my eggs have slowed down suddenly and significantly when the cold hit, but I found out why...they have been eating them....I think because the roosters have discovered that it is a real warm treat. I have since removed the roosters and my egg production went up the same day I did this...

 

[Ms. Lewis Rich]

I think it has more to do, with the decreased amount of day light.
You can always give them artifical light on a timer, at least 14 hrs. a day may increase eggs.

But I guess it's natues way to let their bodies rest from all that hard work makin them eggs!

 

[ILoveJoe]

I have a red light on in the coop all the time. I keep it on for warmth and so they can see on days like today when it is to cruddy to go out and play.

I go out in the coop and check on them when I get home from work and last night around 1 am there was an egg. When I go out there at night, they hop off the roost and start eating and putzing around. So yesterday I got 4 eggs. Waaay down from 10 the night before.

I usually let them out after 10am and there are about 6 eggs, then while I am at work hubby collects a few more and then he locks them up at night.

I often give them feed when I check on them at night since they jump up and start pecking around.

So far today (11:30 am) I have already collected 8 eggs.

 

[Beekissed]

My production went up, but this is because my 5 mo. old pullets started their lay, so I'm sure this isn't typical. My total also went up when I discovered my egg-suckin' hound coming out of the coop! Preventing access has shown a sharp increase in production!

 

[ILoveJoe]

Well by the end of the day today I had an even dozen. I guess yesterday was a glitch in the system.

Pretty soon all 18 will be laying everyday. Woo Hoooo!