I have had chickens for 3 years. I know they stop or slow down in the winter because of light. I had 1 hen that barely took a break before starting back up. Then some pullets start between Dec/Jan. and one other Hen started back up a couple weeks ago. Like other places we had a drop in temp last week. My hen that started back to laying Jan 1st hasn't laid since Jan 18th (she was laying 1 taking 2 days off laying again), the 1 that barely took a break for the winter decided to stop Jan 16th. oh and another Hen started back up Dec 28th after her break and stopped laying a few days ago (she laid every other day consistently). Then one of my pullets started laying Jan 14th laid the 16th, 18th and nothing since....... I know pullets when they start can be a bit irregular but I haven't had one that started irregular and then just stop.
so wasn't sure if it was the big drop in temps that caused them to stop? I know in extreme heat they can stop so wasn't sure if same for the cold. They didn't seem to do it last year when we had the bitter cold but that may have been just that they hadn't started back up yet (I can't remember).
I also have 1 pullet that laid her first egg Sept 9th and then nothing after was thinking maybe it wasn't her egg (I have cameras in my coop so can see who lays where), well then Jan 3rd she laid again and I was 100% sure it was her and it was the same color as the Sept 9 egg so pretty sure both were her...... I was thinking even though most pullets lay all winter maybe that was why she didn't lay from Sept- Jan. well she hasn't laid anything since. She is perfectly healthy, eats well etc. Is there a chance this is just her getting in sync? She hatched in March so she isn't a "young" pullet. I have a 2 yr old hen that has never laid an egg in her life (yes she is a hen and not sure why she doesn't lay? internal layer maybe?????) and a 3 yr old hen that only lays a handful of eggs a year........ Not sure I want to keep a 3rd one that barely lays but they are my pets and I feel bad getting rid of them for not laying but I also have them for eggs and don't want a coop full of poor layers.........
so wasn't sure if it was the big drop in temps that caused them to stop? I know in extreme heat they can stop so wasn't sure if same for the cold. They didn't seem to do it last year when we had the bitter cold but that may have been just that they hadn't started back up yet (I can't remember).
I also have 1 pullet that laid her first egg Sept 9th and then nothing after was thinking maybe it wasn't her egg (I have cameras in my coop so can see who lays where), well then Jan 3rd she laid again and I was 100% sure it was her and it was the same color as the Sept 9 egg so pretty sure both were her...... I was thinking even though most pullets lay all winter maybe that was why she didn't lay from Sept- Jan. well she hasn't laid anything since. She is perfectly healthy, eats well etc. Is there a chance this is just her getting in sync? She hatched in March so she isn't a "young" pullet. I have a 2 yr old hen that has never laid an egg in her life (yes she is a hen and not sure why she doesn't lay? internal layer maybe?????) and a 3 yr old hen that only lays a handful of eggs a year........ Not sure I want to keep a 3rd one that barely lays but they are my pets and I feel bad getting rid of them for not laying but I also have them for eggs and don't want a coop full of poor layers.........
LOL The biggest shock to me was the pullet that laid 3 consistently then stopped..... I have had them lay 1 then it be 3-7 days till their 2nd etc. and be a bit wonky the first few but never a set thing for a few then stop. and she is my FIRST pretty blue egg layer so I was even more excited for her eggs since I have been trying for blue eggs for 3 years and haven't had any luck!
